Forum Participants Demand Physical Education for Girls - Arab News

Forum Participants Demand Physical Education for Girls Hayat Kharbash, Arab News

ABHA, 13 April 2006 — Participants in an educational forum here demanded yesterday the introduction of physical education in the Kingdom’s girls schools. Ayesha Al-Shahri, director of security at the Asir education department, said: “Sports education cannot be ignored because, according to the old adage, a healthy mind exists in a healthy body. Sporting is good for body as it improves blood circulation and makes girls energetic by driving away lethargy and laziness.” Asir Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who opened the two-day meeting on Tuesday, underscored the strategic role played by educational supervisors in running the Kingdom’s schools in order that they achieve the noble goal of shaping the future of the country. “We are living in a world which is confused intellectually, psychologically and economically and our young men and women are exposed to diverse ideological currents. Some of these ideas are correct, some perverted, some good and some wicked. You are the supervisors and teachers trusted by the guardian of the country in guiding the children to the safe track,” the prince said. He told the teachers to help students choose the right path in a confused world. More than 260 women supervisors from various parts of the country attended the program. Speaking on the occasion, Education Minister Abdullah Al-Obaid said that a major duty of the educational supervisors was to motivate teachers, students and other related agencies to achieve the noble goals of education in a guaranteed manner. “The contemporary world witnessed a great explosion of knowledge and advancement of technology and schools should be given top priority while countering the challenges of the time,” the minister said. Participating in the discussions, Samia Binladin of the Jeddah education supervisor’s office said schools need an update of functions to suit modern requirements, both in quality and quantity. Several work papers were presented on the special features and educational environment of ideal schools. Muna Al-Khalifa, director of educational supervision in Rass, observed that the first thing an effective and active school should possess is a permanent staff. “On the other hand, female teachers who go on maternity leave extend their leave for up to seven years in order to take care of their babies. Certainly they have the right to do so, but this is one of the reasons for the drop in the standard of education,” Al-Khalifa said. She urged the authorities to find practical solutions to sidestep the negative effects of teachers’ long leave. Mudi Al-Naeem, assistant undersecretary for educational supervision at the Education Ministry, in her speech underscored the importance of the forum that provided a stage for discovering the positive aspects in the methods of teaching and the difficulties the teachers are facing and the ways to solve them. It also gives an opportunity to supervisors to share their experiences, she said.