The start of the school day in Tabuk was delayed by an hour due to the cold

The General Directorate of Education in the Tabuk region issued an urgent directive to delay the start of the school day in all schools within the region and its affiliated governorates, effective next week. This decision to postpone the start of the school day by one hour comes in response to reports of a drop in temperatures and the region's current weather fluctuations, characterized by extreme cold, particularly in the early morning hours.

This measure comes as part of the Ministry of Education and its regional departments' ongoing commitment to the safety of students and all school staff, both teaching and administrative. The Ministry has granted regional education directors the authority to assess the situation and make appropriate decisions regarding suspending classes or adjusting the start time of the school day, based on reports issued by the National Center for Meteorology, to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment.

The climatic background of the Tabuk region and its impact

The Tabuk region and the northern regions of Saudi Arabia are known for their distinct geographical and climatic characteristics compared to the rest of the Kingdom. They experience a significant drop in temperatures during winter, sometimes falling below freezing, with the possibility of snowfall and frost. These harsh weather conditions make going out in the early morning hours a health challenge, especially for children and young people, necessitating administrative intervention to adjust schedules to better suit the climatic realities.

The importance of the decision and its implications

This decision has significant health and organizational implications. From a health perspective, delaying the start of the school day helps students avoid the peak of the cold at sunrise, thus reducing the chances of catching colds and other seasonal winter illnesses. From an organizational standpoint, this adjustment facilitates traffic flow and eases the burden on parents, especially given the weather conditions that can affect road conditions and visibility in the early morning.

The Tabuk Education Department always emphasizes the need for parents and students to follow the official platforms and approved administration accounts to obtain continuous updates on school hours and the academic situation, stressing that the student’s safety remains the top priority on which all administrative and educational decisions are based.