The Seventh Arab Chemistry Olympiad hosted by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Saudi Chemistry Society and Arab Federation of Chemists has seen intense competition between the participating boys and girls.
Minister of Education Prince Khaled Al-Faisal opened the event in the presence of Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman on Sunday. It features several education and scientific events on various branches of chemistry and has clearly been a learning experience for students.
The Arab countries are represented by 136 boys and girls accompanied by 34 chemistry teachers.
The organizing committee has also scheduled other events including morning and evening visits to historical sites in Madinah including Uhud Mountain, Two Qibla Mosque, the Trench, Quba Mosque, Maraza Al-Iman exhibition, Holy Qur’an printing press and shopping trips to malls.
The supervisors of the delegations also visited Taiba Secondary, Dar Al-Qalam Center, educational museum and the Hijaz Railway station. The women supervisors were taken to the Madinah Historical Museum and Holy Qur’an printing press.
A cultural and heritage carnival called Madinah Nights was also organized to entertain the Arab delegations at the Ansar Sports Club. The events gave a glimpse of the life of people in the city in the past and included folk songs and local dishes. Several supervisors praised the organizers for setting up the events.
Meanwhile, Prince Khaled inaugurated a school and several other education projects on Sunday in Madinah.
The minister opened Omar bin Ali bin Abi Talib high school with Deputy Education Minister Hamad Al-Sheikh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Boys Abdul Rahman Al-Barrak, Director General of Education in Madinah Nasser bin Abdullah Abdulkarim and other officials.
Prince Khaled listened to a briefing by the director general on the project and later attended a ceremony, which started with the national anthem and a recital from the Holy Qur’an.
Abdulkarim spoke about the improved quality of the educational sector, which includes developing the curriculum, education facilities and enhancing teachers’ performance.
Abdulkarim praised the government for spending time and effort on developing the education sector in line with scientific and technical developments around the world. He said education was investing in human resources, which is the real wealth of nations.
Abdulkarim said the project falls under the umbrella of the King Abdullah plan to develop public education.
“It’s an honor that your royal highness inaugurated Omar bin Ali bin Abi Talib school that is located on an area of 20,000 square meters and comprises 24 classrooms, squares, and playgrounds,” Abdulkarim said. Around 720 students will benefit from the project that cost SR36 million.
Prince Khaled also announced the launch of 115 schools at a total cost of SR1.4 billion, which includes 72 gyms, 63 stadiums, two complexes for special education males and another one for girls in three complexes, including all equipment at a cost of SR90 million.
The minister also announced the establishment of two scientific centers in Madinah costing SR54 million, and the rehabilitation and restoration of 100 school buildings, gyms and playgrounds valued at SR230 million. This brings the cost of approved projects to over SR1.77 billion.
The educational projects are aimed at improving education outcomes in the country.