SOME years ago, I called a senior official at the Ministry of Education to inform him that an international school in Riyadh, under the supervision of the ministry and which enrolls mostly Saudis, usually closes down for Christmas. I also told him that this very school closes for three days only for Eid Al-Adha. The official showed great concern about the issue but years passed without anything being done. The official retired and my complaint disappeared into oblivion. I remembered this while reading the other day a statement by Director General of Education in Jeddah Abdullah Al-Thaqafi, who was commenting on a complaint by a number of residents conveyed to him by Sabaq electronic newspaper. The citizens complained that an international school in Jeddah, also under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, goes on holiday during Christmas. Al-Thaqafi had reportedly said: “This is an unacceptable matter. The system does not allow for this. If the complaint is confirmed, there will be a deterring punishment for such excessiveness.” Surprisingly, this is the same talk I heard from my first friend. Regardless, neither the international school in Riyadh has changed its system of going on holidays during Christmas nor has the Ministry of Education applied any punishment. I do not think the situation will change for the international school in Jeddah. This is not a difficult thing to prove. It will not take anything more than a visit by an official from the ministry or the Department of Education to the school over the next five days to find that its doors are closed for Christmas. The cessation of study in any school for Christmas is not a commodity that is sold secretly. It is an activity done in the open. So it will be obvious when a school goes on vacation.
