Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Minister of Education Ahmed Al-Issa has emphasized the significance of seasonal clubs introduced by his ministry to develop the skills of students and the youth. He urged club managers to conduct activities efficiently with a positive outlook. "Sound thinking is essential for all programs and activities of these clubs that operate during school holidays," Al-Issa told Okaz/Saudi Gazette, as the clubs across the Kingdom prepared to welcome thousands of male and female students after Eid Al-Fitr holidays. "We have immense confidence in the supervisors of these seasonal clubs and we have informed them about the basic principles they should follow," the minister said, adding that a committee would inspect its activities every week and see how many students benefit from them. He said the club managers and officials were selected carefully based on strict criteria. "We have instructed education directors to make sure the criteria are followed while appointing officials to carry out Ijazati (my vacation) programs," Al-Issa said. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Shunaiber, assistant director general of education in the Riyadh region, said his department has opened 94 clubs, 71 for boys and 23 for girls. The Ijazati programs to be implemented by the seasonal clubs will have four tracks: The development track is designed for students aged between 14 and 18 while the vocational track is for the age group of 16-18. The voluntary track will serve the age group 14-18, and the tourism track 16-18. "The seasonal clubs will have a variety of educational, cultural and sports programs," Al-Shunaiber told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He said the programs are designed considering all age groups. "We have proposed suitable programs for each age group to make them attractive and interesting." He expressed his hope that the seasonal clubs would contribute to helping students make use of their long school vacation in a useful and constructive manner.
