Classes will be suspended tomorrow in Riyadh, the Eastern Province and other regions due to rain
Education departments in several regions of Saudi Arabia announced this evening the suspension of in-person classes for tomorrow, Monday, Jumada al-Thani 24, 1447 AH (December 14, 2025), and the shift to distance learning via the "My School" platform and other approved platforms. These decisions were made in response to urgent reports issued by the National Center for Meteorology, which warned of heavy rainfall and unstable weather conditions that could affect the safety of students, teachers, and administrative staff.
Details of the suspension of studies in Riyadh and the Eastern Province
In Riyadh, the General Directorate of Education issued a statement confirming the shift to distance learning for all schools in Riyadh and its surrounding governorates, including Al-Majma'ah, Al-Zulfi, Al-Ghat, Al-Dawadmi, and Shaqra. The decision applies to all school staff, including students, teachers, and administrators. Simultaneously, the General Directorate of Education in the Eastern Province made a similar decision, encompassing all cities and governorates within the region, as well as Hafr Al-Batin, emphasizing the continuation of the educational process through virtual classrooms.
Al-Qassim, Asir and Al-Baha join the list of suspended regions
The decision wasn't limited to the capital and the Eastern Province; it extended to the Qassim region, where the education department directed all students to switch to the Madrasati platform. In the southern regions, Al-Baha University and the regional education department announced the suspension of in-person classes and the shift to the Blackboard and Madrasati platforms. The Asir Education Department and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation also took similar steps in facilities located within the red alert zone, with the exception of some governorates experiencing relatively stable weather conditions.
Digital infrastructure and educational transformation in the Kingdom
This rapid and flexible shift from in-person to remote learning highlights the efficiency of the digital infrastructure that Saudi Arabia has invested in over the past years as part of Vision 2030. The "My School" platform has become a global model for ensuring the continuity of education without interruption, transforming climatic or emergency challenges into opportunities to cultivate a culture of e-learning. This technological readiness ensures that students' academic achievement is not affected despite harsh weather conditions, reflecting the success of the Ministry of Education's strategies in building a resilient and sustainable education system.
Safety priority and decision-making mechanism
The Ministry of Education in the Kingdom employs a decentralized mechanism for making decisions regarding school closures, granting authority to education directors in regions and governorates to assess the situation based on field data and reports from the National Center for Meteorology and Civil Defense. These decisions stem from the leadership's commitment to the safety of lives and property, and to avoiding the risks that may arise from flash floods or water accumulation on roads during commutes to and from schools and universities.
