Shoura green light for girls’ physical education

The Shoura Council has approved the introduction of physical education for girls at public schools across the Kingdom.
Classes will be conducted according to Islamic principles and traditions, said sources.
The issue has been the subject of much debate, especially after some notable scholars, ruled that physical education, including swimming, was permissible as long as it was practiced in strict privacy.
The Ministry of Education had since allowed some private schools to teach sports to school girls.
The Ministry of Education will soon allow physical education classes for girls in public schools under qualified instructors, according to sources. The decision will be made after taking into account logistical issues, such as space, privacy and the availability of qualified female instructors.
“We welcome the ministry’s efforts to introduce physical education to girls,” said Noora Al-Shaikh, a prominent academic. “A culture of sports will help fight obesity among young women across the Kingdom.”
Hanadi Balawi, a Saudi social worker, welcomed the move, saying that it would help create a healthier environment.
There is growing demand for women’s physical education in the Kingdom in the wake of an alarming increase in obesity and other non-communicable diseases.
There are many physical fitness centers already operating in Jeddah and Dammam, with plans to open a new center in Buraidah.