Key Takeaways
- Riyadh schools announced a week-long shift to remote learning on Sunday.
- The decision comes amid ongoing attacks by Houthis on Saudi Arabia.
- No official reason was given for the sudden change.
Parents in Riyadh received messages from schools on Sunday informing them of a last-minute plan to switch to remote learning for a week, according to AFP reports.
The move was made without an official explanation, leaving many families in the dark about the reasons behind the decision.
One parent, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP, 'When a decision affects an entire school community for a full week, families deserve clear communication and transparency about the reasons behind it.'
A Lebanese expatriate living in Riyadh added, 'It’s a last-minute decision. We have no clue what’s happening.'
Late Sunday, some schools indicated they would be returning to in-person learning on Monday, but no official statement from Saudi officials has been made regarding the closures or the return to in-person classes.
The announcement comes a day after the Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen’s Houthis said it had intercepted drones and ballistic missiles targeting the kingdom.
These strikes are part of a series of escalating Houthi attacks since July, when renewed hostilities shattered a years-long truce and embroiled Yemen in the wider Middle East war.
The United Nations Security Council earlier condemned the escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia by Houthis, noting that the strikes have wounded 'civilians, including women and children'.
When a decision affects an entire school community for a full week, families deserve clear communication and transparency about the reasons behind it.
A parent, Riyadh
It’s a last-minute decision. We have no clue what’s happening.
A Lebanese expatriate, Riyadh
