Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh has approved the continuation of studies of foreign scholarship students remotely at all academic levels until the end of 2020. He explained that this should be done in a manner that does not contravene the residency laws of the host countries where the students were sent as part of the scholarship program.

The minister has issued directives to continue spending on those who have completed their graduation and their scholarship program has ended in the spring and summer semesters of 2020 but were not able to return to Saudi Arabia. The minister also instructed to facilitate and ensure their return within a month.

Al-Sheikh also emphasized that the financial allocations would continue for scholarship students who are in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic period and who are pursuing their studies remotely.

He clarified that this would not cover those accompanying these students. However, the cases that require the continued disbursement of financial allocation for the companions shall be submitted to the deputy minister for universities, research and innovation, the minister pointed out.

He also directed the deputy minister to approve the requests of those wishing to postpone their foreign scholarship mission for an additional year due to the pandemic.