RIYADH: A Saudi Health Council advisory on virtual learning and pupils’ screen habits is crucial in helping children lead healthy lives in a digital world following the coronavirus pandemic, say experts
and parents.
With COVID-19 causing school closures, and children across the Kingdom attending online classes, the council has issued guidelines for virtual classes, including taking a break from a screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, proper screen brightness for virtual class, and appropriate room lighting where children are attending class.
Virtual classes also mean less physical activity, so parents should be careful to involve children in exercise, the council has advised.
Afnan Abdulfattah, a mother of two girls and a dentist from Riyadh, told Arab News: “The guidelines are important. The school my children attend provides a break between every class for different subjects.”
She added: “During the classes, they try to make lessons engaging and less dry and boring by involving children in some activity.”
The school has asked parents to provide a suitable area for online classes, with proper lighting, and no intrusive sounds or distracting activity.
Abdulfattah agreed that there is less physical activity with online schooling. “I bought bicycles for my children to give them physical activity after classes.”
She said it is important parents help children remain focused on learning, and avoid use of video games and social media during online classes.
“I allow my children some time for it. When they finish their classes, they use their iPad for games and fun activities,” she said.
Mennatallah Elmeligie, a teacher at an international school in Riyadh, told Arab News: “During online classes, it’s important for student to sit properly and comfortably, using a chair and a desk so their backs and necks won’t hurt after hours learning online.”
She said: “We applied this in our school, we allow five minutes between each session, and we ask the students to move around the house and never to stay in their places between sessions.
“We advise students to stand and do any exercise or dance to a favorite song in break times because it’s important to refresh their mind.”
Students’ virtual health lesson gets top marks among parents in Saudi Arabia
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Students’ virtual health lesson gets top marks among parents in Saudi Arabia
New youth development policy aims to support their role in Vision 2030
- General Policy for Youth Development seeks to amplify the involvement of youth in the workforce across government institutions, the private sector and nonprofit organizations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has introduced a new policy aiming to empower youth participation in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The General Policy for Youth Development seeks to amplify the involvement of youth in the workforce across government institutions, the private sector and nonprofit organizations.
It aims to not only empower Saudi youth to be pioneers within the Kingdom, but also to become problem solvers and innovators on a global scale, the ministry added.
The policy hopes to become an empowering guideline by providing youth with tools and building blocks that will help create a long-term and sustainable environment in the Kingdom for youth to thrive.
The General Policy for Youth Development focuses on five main areas of growth and youth involvement: economic empowerment, community participation, extending education and lifelong learning, health and wellbeing and national identity and religious values.
According to the ministry, all of these objectives are tackled by the policy as it aims to reduce legislative gaps, address youth-related issues and financially empower youth-led initiatives.
For example, some of the objectives highlighted by the policy emphasize digital safety, protection from discrimination and violence, equal opportunities between the two genders, and empowering youth with disabilities.
Prior to establishing the policy, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development conducted in-depth research in youth preparation programs by examining the policies of 20 leading countries in the field, backed by the ministry’s organizing of over 34 workshops with stakeholders.
In the ministry’s pursuit of research, it also held meetings with both local and foreign experts in carrying out surveys that have targeted more than 11,000 young men and women across the Kingdom.
In 2024, the Youth Development Strategy was launched; which was developed with the support of over 30 government and private entities — a milestone that encompasses the Kingdom’s dedication to supporting its youth in diverse ecosystems.
The General Policy for Youth Development is another step forward in making the Kingdom a hub for youth enrichment, as 69.4 percent of the population is under 35 years of age and 35.9 percent of the population are aged 15 to 34.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development quoted in its policy document King Salman speaking about the importance of empowering the youth: “You are the nation’s investment in the future.”
