Thursday, the Minister of Education Tayseer Al-Nuaimi stressed in radio statements that the ministry has no intention of closing schools after parents and guardians have paid the school fees for private schools.

Nuaimi said that rumors of schools closing after paying fees is absolutely false. "We deny it altogether," he said.

He pointed out that the Ministry of Education was clear and concise about the return to schools according to the set health protocols established in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. However, he noted that no one can predict the future, especially in the current pandemic situation.

Nuaimi stressed that the students will remain in their classes as long as there is continued adherence to the health protocols, a decrease in the number of cases, and the stability of the pandemic situation.

He pointed out that there is continuous coordination with the Ministry of Health, adding that ministry investigation teams take regular and random PCR tests in schools.

While addressing the COVID-19 infections found in students and teachers, Nuaimi said that these individuals are part of the community and it is expected that there will be cases in schools. 

Nuaimi emphasized the continuation of in-person learning and the introduction of new grades in two weeks. He added that the progress of the introduction of these grades back to school will come after the verification of two factors; the first of which is to rely on the evaluation the health situation next week for the classes that have started their education already, and the stability of the pandemic situation in the Kingdom as a whole.

He called on parents and teachers to adhere to health protocols to minimize COVID-19 infections in schools.

Also Read: Second grade students return to schools Monday

Feb. 7, students returned to schools in a gradual manner and in adherance to health protocols set by the ministries. Notably, on Feb. 8, the Ministry of Education announced that a total of 19 coronavirus cases were recorded in schools, nine of which were recorded among teachers, eight among students and two among administrative staff.

Also Read: UPDATED: 19 COVID-19 cases recorded in schools Monday