Radicals on Wednesday prevented the Director of Education in Khamis Mushayt Governorate from meeting with the principals of boys' school in a building allocated for teaching secondary school girls. According to sources, the Education Administration in the governorate decided to organize the meeting in the Sixth Girls' School, after school hours, to acquaint principals with how the building is organized, the care taken for its internal and external appearance and to study many dossiers that support the education process. The meeting was not held there, though, because radical elements believed to be unrelated to the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a) gathered at a school mosque and prevented the meeting from being held. According to sources, the radicals informed the Director of Education that meeting inside the girls' school is a violation of directives and regulations and that the director could hold the meeting in the Education Administration's grand hall, which can hold 300 people. The Director of Education responded by issuing a directive to hold the meeting in Al-Faisal Boys' School. Dr. Ali Al-Mousa, Director of Education in Khamis Mushayt, refused to respond and switched off his mobile phone after expressing astonishment that the story had reached the newspaper. Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ahmari, Acting Chairman of the Hai'a, stressed that Hai'a staffers had nothing to do with the decision. Asked if the Hai'a has any reservations about organizing a meeting for education officials or principals in an education building allocated for girls, it sufficed Al-Ahmari to say, “This matter concerns the Education Administration.” The incident comes earlier this month after administrators at Hera Primary School in Khamis Mushayt held a mock funeral in front of the students. School administrators said the action taken during morning roll call was, “purely aimed at creating awareness,” but officials took immediate action. Prince Faisal Bin Khaled, Emir of Asir Region, ordered the formation of a special committee including education and security officials to investigate the matter. The committee is expected to announce its results soon.
