Jeddah, Oct 4 (Arab News): The Ministry of Education has set up a committee to look into reports that some state schools have been asking students for money for school improvements. According to Khalid Al-Sebti, deputy minister of education, the committee intends to ensure that no such violations occur.

The ministry was contacted by Arab News following complaints to the paper from students that they are being asked by teachers to pay for new equipment at their schools. Parents of some expatriate children also said that they are being pressured into funding school improvements if they want their children to be given a place.

“The Ministry of Education issued a statement banning school managements from asking students to pay for any improvements such as air-conditioning, paintwork, decoration work or anything else,” said Al-Sebti.

There were, he said, boxes provided at schools if people wanted to make donations but “nothing should be funded by the students or their parents.”

According to Salha Marzoog, a Saudi student studying at a government school in Jeddah, teachers have been asking students for money to buy a new air-conditioning unit for their class.

“Our teachers asked us to collect money to change the air-conditioning unit. When we told them that this is the school’s duty, especially when the Ministry of Education has allocated large budgets for schools, they called us stingy,” she said.

The allegations come despite a massive government investment in education. In the budget for 2010, the government has allocated SR138 billion for education and training. The allocation accounted for a quarter of the total budget and is the highest for any sector, apart from defense. Planned development projects include the creation of 1,200 new schools and the refurbishment of more than 3,000 others.

“Every year we read and hear about these large budgets for the construction of schools, but nothing seems to actually happen” said Marzoog.

“Since I started secondary school in 2008, I never noticed any positive changes in the classrooms, electricity, services or even the walls.”

Students say fires have broken out in many government schools for girls in Jeddah, Dammam, and Makkah.

“Last year, a fire broke out at our school. Although it was a small fire and put out quickly, it damaged our morale,” said Hind Kharboushi, a Saudi student studying at a government school in Makkah. “Every year we suffer from small fires. A fire almost broke out because of the poor electricity system. All the air-conditioning units are damaged. Because of the damage, we are at risk from fires every day.”

Students accuse school managements of using the money to improve their offices, ignoring classrooms.

“Recently we noticed many refurbishments at our principal’s office, the teachers’ room and the library. When we asked the principal to improve our classes, she said that we didn’t deserve it.”

Overcrowding of classes, schoolyards and restaurants is another problem that many students are suffering from.

“As we are studying in a rented building, most classrooms are small. These classes lack the facilities we need,” said Reem Shaher, a Palestinian student studying at a government school in Riyadh.

“There are as many as 35 students in each class, even though each room can only accommodate 20 students. Such a large number of students in a single class means it is often difficult to focus on the teacher.”

There are often large numbers of students gathering in front of the restaurant stalls to buy their breakfast. “Student who are able to get their breakfast first are considered lucky. We asked the school management to provide additional stalls and staff at the restaurants, but they ignored us,” said Atika Bahamdain, a Yemeni student studying at a government school in Jeddah.

“Recently, we noticed that restaurants were supplying breakfast using food from unknown sources. Sometimes the breakfast was bought from famous food companies, but sometimes not.”

Parents of expatriate students, limited numbers of whom are allowed to attend government schools, have complained that they have been asked to pay for their children’s education through the back door. They say they — but not Saudi parents — are asked to pay for improving the air-conditioning or painting the school in order to get their children into particular state schools.

“As they are only allowed to accept a limited number of expatriate students at government schools, school principals are trying to take advantage,” said Neda'a Kssab, a Jordanian housewife who transferred her daughter from a private to a government school.

“They asked me to buy an air-conditioning unit, in exchange for allowing my daughter to join the school. If I refused, the principal said she would put my daughter on the waiting list and wait for another expatriate family who was willing to pay.”

Arab News contacted a number of state schools for a comment, but none were available.