RIYADH — The Ministry of Education has contracted different companies and organizations to provide swimming and equestrian classes in schools. Deputy Minister of Education Abdulrahman Al-Barak said some education directorates took the initiative to contract various organizations and companies to provide swimming and equestrian classes in schools. "The Ministry of Education has not issued any statement declaring that the ministry will build a swimming pool in schools. The directorates which contracted with organizations to provide programs took the initiative to do so on their own with the budget allocated to them," said Al-Barak. He also said these classes were not made mandatory by the ministry. Abdulhamid Al-Masoud, student activities director in the Ministry of Education, said an agreement will be signed with the Saudi Swimming Union in the coming week. "The directorate has arranged with the Saudi Swimming Union to hold swimming classes for students as part of their extracurricular program. The directorate has also introduced equestrian classes as part of schools' extracurricular program," said Al-Masoud. He also said the directorate does not force all schools to use its swimming and equestrian programs. "It is optional for the school to apply these programs and it is optional for every school to categorize these classes as obligatory or optional. These classes are only available for boys. All of the ministry's initiatives and regulations follow the Islamic and social values and principles," said Al-Masoud.
