Female students wanting to apply for King Abdullah's Scholarship Program face the problem of having to search for guardians in order to apply for a scholarship. Female students spoke to Okaz/Saudi Gazette about this challenge, which might prevent them from seeking education abroad. They expressed concerns they might not find a guardian to accompany them, a mandatory condition to be eligible for the scholarship program. Ashwaq Al-Huthali said she has mixed feelings about the fact that those studying outside the Kingdom need guardians. “I am with and against the condition that a female student who is going to study abroad should have a guardian,” she said. “I'm with this condition because when a female student travels on her own to a foreign country where she does not know anyone, she cannot get by on her own. I'm against this condition because it is a stumbling block in her studies if she can't find the guardian.” u Shattering ambitions Hiba Badawi wondered about the source of the requirement. “If the condition of guardians is based on religious texts, we can't discuss that,” she said. “If it is based on customs and traditions, I think it should not be imposed on female students because the condition may shatter the ambition of these students to complete their studying abroad. Some specializations, which are required by the labor market, are not available in Saudi universities.” u Parents Ziyad Al-Zaid said guardians should be required for female students studying in foreign countries and the thought of letting a daughter study aboard by herself is discomforting. “It is difficult to let our daughters travel alone to foreign countries without a man protecting them,” he said. “A female student who does not have a guardian can complete her education in a local university.” u Source of security Turki Al-Marshoud agreed that guardians are important, especially when the students are a long way from home. “In my personal opinion, guardians are a source of security; they protect girls from life dangers,” he said. “No matter how deeply we trust our daughters, we should not let them live alone in a foreign country thousands of miles away from us with customs and traditions different from ours. Deciding which country to go is the first obstacle a girl has to encounter.” Abdul Aziz Bukhari, a father of a female student in Australia, said guardians are necessary in some cases. “Guardians are very important, especially in the US and European countries,” he said. “If a female student is going to travel to an Arab country, we could be less strict about the guardian condition. Also, a female student abroad needs a guardian to go with her to the embassy to follow up with her scholarship paperwork.” u Annual problem Najwa Samilan said some students have been unable to earn degrees after years of working to be accepted in high-quality schools. “This problem prevented outstanding students from pursuing their dreams and earning higher diplomas from top-notch universities around the world,” she said. “We hear about this problem every year when King Abdullah's Scholarship Program begins.” u Female students end up in the kitchen Maha Al-Shareef said the requirement that guardians are present for all four years of the schooling can make it hard to find someone who is willing and able to do it. “I'm not against guardians for female students but I'm against imposing this condition on female students throughout the period of their study, which can take four years,” she said. “Our guardians have work to do and they can't stay away from home for long periods. This hinders students and does not allow them to finish their studying. We live in a society which believes that female students studying abroad will end up in the kitchen.” u Making things harder Another female student, who preferred anonymity, said she does not have a guardian who can accompany her and she is suffering a lot because she doesn't. “I have a high GPA, which allows me to be a teaching assistant and apply for a scholarship, but the lack of a guardian prevents me from making my dream to complete higher studies come true,” she said. “I can't ask my father, who provides for my little brothers, sisters and mother to leave them and travel with me. The condition of guardians makes things more complicated. I don't understand why we have this condition when we have an embassy and a cultural attaché, which can act as guardians.” u Have trust, be careful Abdullah Al-Zaid said it's not a matter of thinking the young women cannot handle studying abroad on their own. “The condition of guardians has nothing to do with confidence at all,” he said. “It just means that every girl needs someone to protect her and attend to her affairs. A queen always needs someone to serve her and attend to her affairs. Our girls are queens. We trust them but we should be careful because life is no longer safe and this makes us fear for our girls inside, let alone abroad.” __
