Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- The Saudi Ministry of Education will implement its decision to separate boys and girls in Saudi-owned international schools. This decision will be applied from the beginning of the school year, which began 9 September, 2006.

The international education director at the Ministry of Education, Abdel Hady Mohammed Al Shelkhy, explains that the decision will affect 150 international schools, adding that all affiliates of foreign international schools, from teachers to employees and students, must conform to Islamic rules and regulations, as well as to the Saudi educational system. Al Shelkhy concludes that the decision to separate boys and girls has not been implemented in the kingdom’s 70 schools for foreign communities in accordance with the diplomatic embassies.