Six Million Students in Saudi Arabia Returning to School

Gulf

August 29th, 7:33am

Riyadh - Asharq Al-Awsat

School books are handed out to students before the beginning of the academic year. (Ministry of Education via Twitter)

Saudi students will return to school on Sunday for in-person learning after it came to halt due to the outbreak of the coronavirus last year. The academic year will begin at schools and universities where several health precautions are in place to ensure the safety of students, faculty and parents amid the ongoing pandemic. Students above the age of 12 must have taken two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to be allowed to enter campus. They must also show that they have downloaded the Tawakkalna app before being allowed to enter. Students who have not received two doses of the vaccine will be barred entry and marked as absent from class. Kindergarten and elementary school students will continue their virtual learning until October 30 or when the desired level of 70 percent community immunity is reached. Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al Al-Sheikh met on Saturday with directors of education departments from various regions. He underscored to them the importance of complying with the health precautions to ensure the safety of the students and faculty. More than six million students are expected to return to school on Sunday, he added. The Ministry of Health confirmed on Saturday 234 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 543,796. It reported 509 recoveries, taking the total to 531,733, and six deaths, raising the toll to 8,526.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3158741/six-million-students-saudi-arabia-returning-school