JEDDAH, 1 April 2004 — Dar Al-Hanan, the first private girls’ school in Saudi Arabia, is closing “temporarily” for two to four years at the end of the present academic year.
The school is moving to a new building in north Jeddah which is still under construction and might take several years to finish.
“The decision came as a surprise to us and caused students and staff much anguish and confusion,” said Suad Khallaf, assistant director of administrative, financial and educational affairs.
On behalf of Princess Lolowah Al-Faisal, vice chairwoman of the board of directors, Princess Sarah Al-Faisal announced the decision on Saturday in an emotional meeting with staff members, students and their mothers.
Many of the students have been in the school since kindergarten; those in Grades 10 and 11 are particularly sad because they do not want to transfer to other schools for their final years. As for the teachers — some are even graduates of the school — are already being approached by other private schools since Dar Al-Hanan is known for its high teaching standards.
The school administrators, however, are worried that they might not be able to find jobs immediately. “The announcement was very upsetting especially since we have been preparing for the school’s 50th anniversary next year, but now we won’t have the chance to celebrate that,” said Khallaf.
The board of directors has been discussing the matter for some time and decided temporarily closing the school to be the best alternative, according to Dar Al-Hanan Principal Cecile Rushdi.
Dar Al-Hanan and Effat College were both established by the late Queen Effat, wife of King Faisal, and governed by the same board of directors. They are located on the same campus but while Dar Al-Hanan’s students have decreased during the past years, Effat College, which opened in 2000, is expanding and needs the school’s building. An administrative office will remain open to process documents or records requested by staff and students.
“It is very hard for us to let go teachers whom we have trained over the years, but we will be starting afresh with a new model educational system and a new outlook,” said Rushdi.
