http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article63501.ec
Ministry bans music, dancing in schools By MUHAMMAD AL-SULAMI | ARAB NEWS Published: Jun 10, 2010 03:04 Updated: Jun 10, 2010 03:04 JEDDAH: The Ministry of Education issued on Wednesday a circular to all schools in the Kingdom ordering that no music or dancing be allowed during upcoming graduation celebrations. School events may also not be advertised in local media. Graduation celebrations, it added, are to take place in the morning within the last three weeks of the academic year. "The celebrations should not disrupt the school day, lead to the cancellations of classes or cause students and teachers to absent themselves the next day," the ministry said, adding that no cameras should be allowed in schools. Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah has received reports from concerned parents fearing there might be excessive celebratory activities that may last well into the night, especially in public schools for girls. The ministry cited a recent incident where a private school for girls in Yanbu brought in a folkloric troupe that specializes in singing and dancing at wedding parties that continued all night in honor of graduating sixth grade schoolgirls. Saleh Al-Sayed, the parent of a girl attending school in Yanbu, said such parties are unacceptable. "In the past, public schools used to make special programs marking the end of the year during which gifts were handed out to students. Now these activities have become dancing and singing celebrations that continue until next morning," he said. Fahhad Al-Otaibi, another father, said his daughter asked him for a lot of money to buy special clothes for the graduation ceremony and to share in the costs of the celebrations. "These graduation parties, especially in girl schools, must stop," he demanded. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
