Saudi Gazette report Riyadh – Minister of Education Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah has instructed all Directorates of Education in the Kingdom to include physical education (PE) classes in the weekly school schedule for female students, an Arabic language daily newspaper reported on Saturday. Ministry spokesman Mohammad Al-Dekhaini said that these instructions are in concurrence with Islamic teachings that allow women to practice sports with certain conditions. He said that the minister, who issued these instructions out of his concern for the health of girls students, asked private schools to prepare suitable and properly equipped areas for this purpose. These sports activities should take into consideration the students' age. Students are also to wear suitable sports wear that covers their bodies. The circular also assured that priority should be given to the recruitment of qualified Saudi women teachers to supervise these activities. A number of private girls' schools have begun scheduling PE classes in their school curricula. The schools have asked students to wear suitable sportswear during the PE class. A number of private schools have already begun recruiting Saudi teachers to train and qualify them to teach PE classes. Some schools have scheduled one PE class a week for intermediate and secondary students and two PE classes a week for elementary students. In March this year, the Ministry of Education assured the Shoura Council that it will introduce PE classes in girls' schools. The ministry in a report submitted to the Shoura at that time said that the classes will take into consideration social traditions and conventions of Saudi society and will be in line with the fatwa issued in this regard by the Senior Board of Ulema. It requested the Shoura Council to approve their recommendations to develop sports in schools. Most private schools for girls provide a wide range of physical activities for their students that are not just fun but also good for the body.
