{
  "id": 4239616,
  "title": "2 million students return to schools in Makkah and Madinah regions Sunday",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/2-million-students-return-to-schools-in-makkah-and-madinah-regions",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T17:20:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Saudi Gazette",
    "slug": "saudi-gazette",
    "url": "https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/664151/saudi-arabia/2-million-students-return-to-schools-in-makkah-and-madinah-regions-sunday"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jeddah's educational departments announced that nearly two million students from Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif will return to school on Sunday. In Makkah, around 464,000 students will return, while 270,000 students from Taif will do the same. Jeddah has recently bolstered its educational infrastructure by adding 27 modern schools, five early childhood projects, eight schools under the Aseel model, and 30 schools under construction. In Madinah, the General Directorate of Education is prepared to welcome half a million students in 2,631 schools, with over 38,000 teachers participating. The ministry issued additional school holidays, but only Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif have one extra day off on October 25, 2026.",
  "summary": "JEDDAH — Nearly two million students from the educational departments of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif will return to schools on Sunday. The general directorates of education in these four regions have completed their preparations to welcome the students. Classes for public schools in all other regions of Saudi Arabia commenced last Sunday, Aug. 23, on the first day of the new academic year.…",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly two million students from Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif return to school on Sunday.",
    "Makkah prepares for 464,000 students to return, while Taif has 270,000 students returning.",
    "Jeddah enhances educational infrastructure with 27 new schools and 30 under construction."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "All Saudi students return to school Sunday as new academic year begins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/all-saudi-students-return-to-school-sunday-as-new-academic-year-begins",
        "published": "2026-08-29T19:06:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}