Girls are now permitted to participate in private school sport programs in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education recently ruled that female participation in sport activities remains within the bounds of the sharia, or Islamic law, provided that students adhere to these requirements: students must abide by the rules of the sharia, “dress modestly,” and female teachers have priority in supervising the athletic activities. The Education Ministry’s decision orders private school officials to provide appropriate practice spaces and equipment making young women’s sport programs in private schools a government-sanctioned activity. This landmark decision for Saudi Arabia is considered as a progressive move in the direction of women’s rights.
However, not all girls have been offered this opportunity. The Education Ministry’s decision limits program participation to young women attending private schools; while most Saudi Arabian girls enroll in the public school system where curriculum for physical education still does not exist. Few girls will experience the sport program’s effects. Many girls will still be left with undeveloped athletic potential and will not be able to experience the physical and mental benefits of organized sport exercises.
After facing pressure from the International Olympic Committee before the London Olympics in 2012, the conservative kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifted their ban on female participation in sports. They sent their first female competitors to the Olympic Games that year. This monumental moment was met with intense controversy, but gained enough support that it is widely considered the predecessor to these private school sport programs.
Progress seems slow, but perhaps the introduction of government sanctioned programs and the success of private school programs will allow public schools to follow suit in the near future.
Creative Commons Love: Aslan Media on Flickr.com
Written by Melody Chiang