With a small ruler:
Physical education (PE) could be introduced into girls’ schools for the first time in Saudi history. The introduction could become reality since, in a vote of 75-29 two weeks ago, the Shoura Council approved the recommendation. If approved by the king, the recommendation would put an end to a ban of more than 40 years which has prevented girls from participating in any form of sports in public schools.
Dr. Hussein Al-Alawi, chairman of the education affairs and scientific research committee, who is also a member of the Shoura, told AFP yesterday that the recommendation had been sent to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd. The king has the final say. “Seventy-five of the Shoura Council’s 120 members voted in favor of a recommendation by a council member to introduce sports into girls’ schools,” he explained.
Dr. Al- Alawi, however, was one of the Shoura members who voted against the recommendation. In an interview last week with Al-Eqtisadiah, a sister publication of Arab News, he argued that introducing PE for girls would not solve the problem of female obesity which is on the rise in the Kingdom. He pointed out that studies had shown that obesity is a problem among boys as well so evidently “physical education did not lead to desired goals.”
I guess some liberalization is better than no liberalization. It’s also interesting to read that the Saudis also have a child obesity problem (posted by Daniel Drezner).
The Dish 