(MENAFN- Arab Times) Despite the affirmation from Minister of Education and Higher Studies Ahmad Al- Muleifi that the Cabinet has no intention to take constitutional steps related to law numbers 24/1996 and 34/2000 on the structure of higher education and establishment of private schools, those who have been closely following up the issue revealed there has been a directive to look into the possibility of referring both laws to the Constitutional Court; especially articles 1,2 and 3 of the first law, and Article 6 of the second law which, in general, prohibits coeducation
Concerns
Sources said "some political and academic experts raised concerns regarding the laws after finding constitutional and technical faults in the school segregation rule, indicating the government is supposed to take responsibility to straighten out this issue". Sources pointed out the segregation in schools has led to huge expenditures related to projects in the universities; such as building, operations and provision of teachers, let alone the fact that this law is hard to implement academically as it was clearly demonstrated in the Shadadiya University project, among others. In addition, the Constitution has granted people freedom to choose the type of education; while school segregation contradicts Article 40 of the Constitution and there is suspicion on the unconstitutionality of these laws which offend the decorum of students and lack clear implementation mechanism. Meanwhile, MP Hamoud Al-Hamdan confirmed the government has right to refer any law to the Constitutional Court, although he wonders why this issue is being brought up at this moment. Al-Hamdan argued if the government refers the Segregation Law to the Constitutional Court, it will be his role and his colleagues to express their conviction in regard to positive aspect of gender segregation and they will explain the huge fault which used to exist before this law
Move
MP Yaqoub Al-Sane said he has not yet heard about any government move towards referring the Segregation Law to the Constitutional Court. He stressed any decision made by the court - when it finds unconstitutional faults - will be respected and honored. MP Faisal Al-Shaya stated, "Everyone who used to demand school segregation currently sees the issue has created a huge problem for students and it has caused graduation delays". Al-Shaya added the existence of both genders in one place happens daily and even in the most sacred place on earth in Makkah. "I don't know if the government will refer the law or not, but we will see the justifications it will give; and if it will be for the best, we will stand by it. The issue should not be looked from the angle of the supporters and the opposition, but instead, it should be looked from the angle of the students' interest and welfare," he concluded
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