{
  "id": 4383538,
  "title": "700,000 students return to Jeddah schools as new academic year begins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/700-000-students-return-to-jeddah-schools-as-new-academic-year-begins",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T08:26:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ajel English",
    "slug": "ajel-english",
    "url": "https://english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/5yh4n46pc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Approximately 700,000 students returned to schools in Jeddah, Rabigh, Khulais, and Al-Kamil as the 2026 academic year commenced, amidst meticulous preparations for a secure learning atmosphere. On Sunday, students gathered at 2,862 public, private, and international institutions, initiating the new school year.\n\nSchools opened their doors to students in a methodical manner from the early hours, following extensive preparations to guarantee a stable educational process and a safe, supportive educational environment. Manal bint Mubarak Allahyabi, Director General of Education in Jeddah, revealed that preparations commenced early and encompassed school building and facility readiness, maintenance and operations, cleaning, and classroom equipping to ensure a fitting environment for students from the outset.\n\nTo address urban and population growth, Allahyabi informed that 27 new schools have been established in collaboration with the private sector, complemented by five early childhood initiatives and eight schools adopting the Aseel model. Construction is underway for an additional 30 schools. Allahyabi emphasized that expanding educational projects and facilities is aimed at enhancing the quality of the learning environment and enriching students' experiences, in alignment with national education development goals.",
  "summary": "Around 700,000 students resumed classes in Jeddah, Rabigh, Khulais, and Al-Kamil as the 2026 school year began, amid extensive preparations for a safe learning environment.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Jeddah education chief: 40 training programs supported early teacher return",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/jeddah-education-chief-40-training-programs-supported-early-teacher",
        "published": "2026-08-30T07:00:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}