RIYADH: The new academic year 2017-18 kicked off on Sunday with more than 6 million students in different levels of public education attending the first day of classes all over the Kingdom.
More than half-a-million teachers were on hand to welcome the students and ensure an orderly educational process.
In the Saudi capital, Minister of Education Ahmed Al-Issa visited two schools on the first day of classes, expressing pleasure over the level of attendance and readiness on the first day of the academic year. At the Al-Mughira School, he inaugurated a program for first-grade students.
He said Saudi Arabia deserves schools and universities that will prepare students to compete at the “world level.”
“Our country deserves to have an advanced educational system enjoying creative capacities (and) bright minds ... to provide the best opportunities to our sons and daughters to enable them compete,” he said.
The minister said students should commit to Islamic teachings and community values, preserve Saudi Arabia’s achievements and work hand-in-hand with teachers and other students.
He also lauded the role of families in making the work of schools and universities a success.
Moreover, teachers and students worked with the Department of Traffic in the Riyadh region on traffic awareness by distributing roses and leaflets.
Officers and staff of the department were deployed at many intersections and roads to guide drivers and passengers in compliance with traffic regulations.
In Qassim, more than 186,000 students trooped off to 1,726 schools for boys and girls at the kindergarten, primary, intermediate and secondary levels.
The first day of classes was characterized by a “disciplined start in the early hours of the first school day.” The highest degree of readiness was achieved after a series of preparatory meetings.
Director General of Qassim Education Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Rukayan, also the head of the school preparedness committee, chaired a number of meetings in connection with the current academic year.
In Asir, 46,000 students attended the first day of classes, with Prince Mansour bin Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of the Asir region, saying that teachers carry a noble message and play an important role in the education of young people.
He attended the first day of classes at an elementary school in Abha, in the presence of Asir Director General of Education Jalawi bin Mohammed Al-Karkman, who said that ten school buildings have been completed in conjunction with the beginning of the new academic year.
He said that the buildings will contribute to the reduction of rented buildings and provide an attractive environment for the employees and teachers in general, and students in particular.
More than 15,000 teachers attended a series of training programs, most notably on Canadian experiences in education, the skills required for new teachers, and reading proficiency, evaluation methods, among others.
Over 6m students head to schools as classes kick off in Saudi Arabia
Over 6m students head to schools as classes kick off in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Estonia strengthen cyber defense cooperation
- Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms
RIYADH: Estonia aims to deepen defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia as both nations look to advance technology‑driven defense and cybersecurity capabilities.
Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense, told Arab News at the World Defense Show in Riyadh on Monday that Estonia’s defense industry is eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s fast‑growing defense ecosystem.
“In the modern world, cooperation built on trust and technology is the best defense,” he said. “It is important for us to be here because we clearly see there is a possibility to increase cooperation, not only bilaterally between Saudi Arabia and Estonia, but across the region.”
At Estonia’s pavilion, a cooperation agreement was signed between an Estonian company and a Saudi firm during the show, he noted.
Pevkur also said Estonia’s defense sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by technological innovation and partnership.
“Our defense industry is growing very rapidly, and we continue to see strong momentum,” he said.
He said Estonia’s strengths lie in digital and smart‑system integration rather than large‑scale weapons production.
“We will not build airplanes or tanks, but what we can do is integrate robotics, automation and drones to make existing systems smarter,” he said.
The minister said effective defense collaboration must link businesses and governments to achieve meaningful results.
“When we want to have real cooperation, we need it on all levels,” he said. “The biggest client for any defense company is the government, so we must treat this as one ecosystem where the public and private sectors work hand in hand.”
Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms.
Pevkur said several Estonian companies, including Nortal, have already assisted Gulf governments in developing open IT and digital‑service systems.
“As the most digitalized nation in the world, almost every service in Estonia can be done online, except getting married,” he said. “But with such digitalization, we also need strong cyberdefense.”
He said data protection and digital resilience are treated as matters of national sovereignty in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
“Data is what we own. When someone steals that data, it becomes a serious threat,” he added. “That is why cyberdefense is not just about technology, it is about trust, sovereignty and protection.”
Pevkur said Saudi Arabia’s advances in AI offer promising opportunities for collaboration.
“I know that Saudi Arabia is doing great work when it comes to AI,” he said. “For us, as a small country with limited human resources, AI is essential not just for defense but for everyday life.”
Pevkur added that Estonia has launched a national AI strategy to promote responsible development and closer coordination between government and industry. One Estonian company, he said, has developed a system that allows a single operator to control hundreds of drones through AI.
“It is quite easy to put a weapon into the hands of a robot, but we also need to define who is accountable for its actions,” he said.
“The big question for the future is whether we can allow a war to be fought entirely by AI, or if humans must always make the final ethical decisions.”
He said in his conclusion that governments must reach a common understanding on how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield.
