Saudi schools: Parents could be jailed if the child misses classes for 20 days!
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: For the first time anywhere, parents in Saudi Arabia could face imprisonment if their child stays away from school for 20 days without providing any valid reason, the media reported on Saturday.
According to the Gulf News, this action is being taken in accordance with the conservative Muslim country’s Child Protection Law and aims to enhance the quality of education in the upcoming academic year.
The report came after over 6 million students in Saudi Arabia returned to school after a two-month summer break.
In a significant development, the Saudi Ministry of Education has also given the green light to incorporate new subjects like earth sciences, space, and event management, into the secondary school curriculum.
Citing Saudi outlet Makkah newspaper, Gulf News reported that if a student is absent from school for 20 days without a legitimate excuse, their guardian could be subject to an investigation by the public prosecution under the Child Protection Law of the nation.
After the conclusion of this inquiry, the case would be forwarded to a court of law. If the parent is proven careless regarding the student’s absence, a judge would have the authority to impose a jail sentence of an appropriate term against the parent. The move is part of efforts to ensure “ideal studies” in the new academic year.
The Gulf News also said the legal procedure against the guardian of the absent student involves several stages. Firstly, the school principal is mandated to report the case to the respective education department that would initiate an inquiry. Subsequently, the Education Ministry will take over the case’s proceedings. Then, a family care department would hear the student’s testimony to determine the cause of absence from the school.
After this, if necessary, the guardian could be subjected to an inquiry by the prosecution before the case is taken to court.
