Saudi public schools will begin offering physical education for girls in the coming academic year, the kingdom’s education ministry announced on Tuesday, a long-awaited step toward social reform in the Islamic kingdom. Physical education for women is controversial in Saudi Arabia, where conservatives consider it immodest, and it is not mandatory. It is not offered in most public schools, although some private schools include it in the curriculum. Saudi Arabia adheres to strict interpretations of Islamic law and tribal custom, requiring women to have male guardians throughout their lives and obey a modest dress code. Saudi Arabia struggles with high rates of obesity, which place pressure on its health system.

Source: Egypt Independent July 11, 2017 12:45 UTC