TABUK — A Saudi mother fainted outside the office for men's admission at Tabuk University after the university allegedly rejected her daughter's request from admission to a medical college despite scoring high grades in the qualifying examination.
Rahma Al-Huwaiti later died in a hospital, Al-Madinah newspaper reported. Tabuk University denied responsibility for the woman's death and released a statement clarifying its position over the admission issue.
It said Al-Huwaiti's daughter and son applied to Tabuk University and both were accepted in majors of their choice.
The university said the girl had graduated from Al-Thaniyah High School in Al-Bida Governorate with high grade points. She had secured a weighted grade of 91.54 out of 100. In her application, she had stated computer science as her first option of major and was accepted in the university's Haql branch.
However, around 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday, the girl came with her parents and brother to the men's registration office demanding she be given admission into the university's medical college.
University employees informed the father that the office was not a suitable place for women so his wife and daughter should wait in the car.
The father and the brother were received by the dean of admissions, who explained to them that the girl was accepted into the College of Computer Science because she gave it as her first choice in her application.
The dean said the girl was eligible for admission to the medical college and she will be transferred there when a place becomes available once the initial registration process was over.
The girl's brother had also applied to the university, and with 73.04 grade points after weightage was given, he was accepted into the College of Biology in Haql, which was his first choice.
The dean clarified to the father that his son may also transfer to another major if he wished provided he meets all the requirements of that major.
The university said Al- Al-Huwaiti walked out of the office in good health. She fainted while she was waiting in the car. She was taken to the university's clinic and then to the hospital where she died.
Education Minister Azzam Al-Dakhil sent his condolences to the family of Al-Huwaiti, who had worked as a teacher.
The ministry's official spokesman Mubarak Al-Ossaimi said a committee has been formed to look into the case.
