Amro Salam and Munirah Al-Mashkas Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH/RIYADH – The parents of students who enrolled in Science and Technology College have said that they are preparing a lawsuit against the college following its closure. The students implored the Ministry of Higher Education to reconsider their decision. “We don't understand why the college is closing at this particular time,” one of them said. The frustration is most pronounced for the undergraduates who are nearing the completion of their degree courses. Abdul Aziz Nuqali, lawyer and legal consultant, said the ministry rushed the decision to shut down the college. He demanded an explanation from the Ministry on why the college had been closed. “Students' futures have been put in jeopardy by this decision. They should hire a lawyer to raise action against the college. Besides, the college itself may have reason enough to sue the ministry for the rash decision that has been taken,” Nuqali said. Dr. Muhammad Al-Haizan, spokesman for the Ministry of Higher Education, said the ministry met with the owner of the Science and Technology College to discuss the matter. They are scheduled to meet again to explore possible solutions for the aggrieved students. The college had published a statement on its official Facebook page saying it had been closed by the Ministry of Higher Education. The Ministry of Higher Education clarified that the college had not completed licensing procedures before starting classes and was not .given permission to enroll students. There are nearly 1,440 male and female students enrolled in the college. These include freshmen and students who are still studying in their third year and are about to graduate. The students worry that the abrupt shutdown of the college will have serious implications on the future of their education and call for official intervention.
