NAJRAN: Najran's Emir recently closed down four foreign schools in Al-Khaldiya District for violations including the mixing of their 300 male and female pupils and for having no licenses, reported Al-Watan Arabic daily Saturday. The schools were closed at the end of last week after the police gave them a one-week grace period. The decision was issued based on a report by a committee that was formed to inspect the schools, on the order of Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Emir of Najran. The committee, which comprised members from the Emir's Office, the police and the Ministry of Education, inspected several schools. Some schools were found to be educating pupils together between the ages of six and 15. The committee also reported that the education environment at these schools was poor and inadequate, with pupils crowded into rented rooms of old apartments. The teachers and pupils are from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. The official said that the Ministry of Education allows Saudi and foreign investors to open foreign schools for expatriate communities, including from other Arab countries, but they have to comply with certain conditions related to the school building, subjects and academic accreditation.
