MAKKAH — The Ministry of Education has allowed five students at Al-Bushra Private Girls School to skip grades after they showed remarkable capabilities at the Mawhiba Program for Excellence. The school's supervisor, Samirah Shagdar, said one of the students will skip the fifth grade and go straight to the sixth grade and four other students will skip the eighth grade and go straight to the ninth. “Aseel Al-Sharif will skip the fifth grade and go straight to the sixth grade and Faizah Makhdoum, Fatimah Hijazi, Raghad Al-Kharoubi and Jumanah Milibary will skip the eighth grade,” said Shagdar. She said all the credit for the achievement goes to the mothers of the students and the teachers who have put in many hours in guiding and grooming the children. “I think the ministry's decision is a positive step toward improving the educational system. Talented students need to be appreciated. In a more challenging environment, they will continue to excel,” said Shagdar. A source from the ministry said the Mawhiba is a program for school students with exceptional capabilities and talents. “It is a very lengthy and strenuous program, which tests the students in various academic subjects and for intellectual capabilities. The participants are tested on their English and Arabic skills, mathematics and knowledge in science,” said the source. The source added the students who pass these examinations go through a training program, which is more challenging. “Some of these programs are after school. The participants get to solve real life problems and manage projects. After they attend these workshops and programs, their personalities and presentation skills are tested,” said the source. The source also said the ministry has taken the right decision in giving these girls the chance to excel and perform better in the future.
