Saudi takes back over 3,400 school buildings

First step to start the academic year

Jeddah: The Saudi Ministry had taken over 3,400 school buildings to quarantine the labourers. The Ministry of Education took back these schools from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Saudi Press Agency confirmed this on Tuesday. This is considered to the first step in realizing Ministry’s earlier decision to start the Academic year 2020-2021. Ministry calls this ‘the first phase’ of the Academic year start.

These buildings were properly sterilized as per Covid protocols, before the Ministry accepted the delivery. Some more precautionary measures also need to be taken, in the upcoming weeks, before the start of the academics.

Earlier, the Education Ministry had handed over 3,445 education buildings in several regions of the Kingdom to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to be used as temporary housing for workers, as part of the ministry’s efforts and precautionary measures to combat the spread of the corona virus pandemic. The ministry has received several buildings after being disinfected, cleaned up and equipped in preparation for the beginning of the next school year. Several stages are set to follow for delivering the rest of the buildings, according to the previously determined time schedule.

Education Minister Dr. Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Asheikh had previously instructed the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to handover 3,445 education buildings as temporary accommodations for workers. These steps started from March 9^th, following the order from the Ministry.

While, the reopening of the schools spread a hope to the good future, news from Jeddah isn’t satisfying. Yesterday’s reports say that authorities re-imposed some restrictions and suspended workplace attendance, as part of efforts to keep the corona virus pandemic at bay. Jeddah reported 447 new corona virus cases on Tuesday, and 577 cases on Monday, making it the second city with the highest daily reported cases in the Kingdom for the second consecutive day. Authorities will keep monitoring the situation in the city over the upcoming days to determine whether harsher measures should be re-imposed to stem the virus outbreak in the city.

The new restrictions may include curfew in the city from 3 PM to 6 AM, limiting the workplace attendance for employees in both government sector and private sector, prohibiting dining in restaurants and cafes and there may be more to come. However, workers in the essential sector, who were not given restriction in the previous curfews, will have to attend workplace as per the speculations. Gathering of six people or more will be considered illegal. The prayers in the local mosques also may be banned.