Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that all pupils would return to in-classroom learning and that it would lift Covid-19 measures including social distancing.
Most children have been studying remotely for almost two years, but with the Covid-19 recovery rate up to 90 per cent, from March 20, children will return to school and will not have to practise social distancing during assembly, prayer, sports, playtime or lessons.
“It has been the most challenging two years with all parents stuck at home due to online learning which was so difficult. They didn’t enjoy being at home all the time and missed the real interaction and the classroom atmosphere,” she said.
“My 6-year-old daughter was jumping with joy when I told her she can go back and be with her classmates. I can finally get around to doing things for myself, like working out, while the kids are at school. It was absolutely essential for parents and children.”
Her daughter Alia said: “I missed my friends.”
The Ministry of Education has issued guidelines on how to limit the spread of Covid-19.
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Physical distancing stickers are removed from the Grand Mosque after Saudi Arabia lifted the requirement to wear masks and observe social distancing in open spaces. All photos: SPA -
The move came after the number of Covid-19 cases in the kingdom continued to decrease, Saudi Arabia’s official press agency (SPA) said. -
Pilgrims are warned they must still wear masks and use the Tawakkalna mobile app to confirm their immunity status when entering the kingdom’s two Holy Mosques. -
The lifting of restrictions is the latest in a series of moves by Saudi Arabia after it reopened its borders to travellers in May. -
There is now widespread hope that primary schoolchildren will soon be allowed to attend classrooms across the country. -
Dawn prayer at the Grand Mosque after the cancelling of physical distance. -
More than 20.6 million of the country's 34.8 million population have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. -
Saudi Arabia recorded two deaths and 45 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday. -
There was positive reaction to the latest lifting of restrictions. ‘This is great news,’ said Naushad Mohammed, a British citizen who lives in Saudi Arabia. -
Mr Mohammed praised the kingdom’s response to the virus. ‘Saudi Arabia has done an impressive and tremendous job in taking care of its people, be it residents or citizens during the pandemic. We were all given free medical care and vaccines and are really lucky to have been here during the pandemic.’ -
'I am glad we are turning a new chapter and hope the world can go back to normal," Mr Mohammed said.
“My students were very happy when I let them know they will be playing sports together and everything is going back to normal. There were cheers and excitement all around,” said Abbas Al Wayli, an Egyptian physical education instructor living in Jeddah.
“We are all really happy to be able to go back to normal and engage in daily activities like we did pre-corona.”
“It makes sense for contact sports especially. Kids want to play and interact with their teammates, which was impossible with their masks and social distancing.”
The ministry said children under the age of 12, even those at kindergarten, will return to school in the third semester of this year, which will start on March 20.
This month, the Saudi government scrapped Covid-19 restrictions with masks no longer required in open spaces, and no social distancing.
Tourists no longer need to quarantine or provide PCR tests.
