Riyadh and Diriyah schools extend remote learning until Oct. 22, Arab News reports

RIYADH — Schools across Riyadh and Diriyah governorate will continue remote learning until Thursday, Oct. 22, the capital's education authority said on Saturday, according to Arab News.

The Riyadh Education General Administration said the decision covers all students, teachers and administrative staff, Arab News reported. Lessons will run through the Madrasati platform and other approved platforms.

"As part of the continued implementation of precautionary measures, it has been decided to extend the conversion of in-person study to remote study," the administration said in a statement on its official X account, as quoted by Arab News.

Alfaisal University and Prince Sultan University also told students by email on Saturday night that classes would be remote this week, according to the outlet.

Pupils will study from home for a second consecutive week, Arab News said. It described this as the second period of remote learning in Riyadh this autumn.

Background

According to Arab News, schools switched to online lessons on Oct. 11, a day after a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport. It cited the General Authority of Civil Aviation as saying the strike killed 12 people and injured 309. Arab News said four of the dead were Saudis and eight were of other nationalities.

Arab News also reported that a further strike on Terminal 4 the next day killed a Pakistani national and injured 11 people. The airport suspended operations for several days, it said.

An earlier suspension of in-person classes ran from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, following interceptions of Houthi drones and ballistic missiles near the capital, the outlet reported.

On Friday, the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted three drones, two cruise missiles and a ballistic missile, according to Arab News. The coalition said the airport had been targeted at least 20 times this month.

The administration did not say what conditions would allow a return to classrooms, or announce arrangements beyond Thursday, Arab News reported.