Riyadh students return to online classes after attacks on capital

Students across Riyadh have returned to virtual classrooms, trading school desks and playground conversations for laptops and tablets at home after attacks on the Saudi capital prompted schools to switch temporarily to remote learning.

For some students, the change has brought welcome benefits, including longer sleep, less time spent in traffic and a more comfortable learning environment. Others, however, say the absence of face-to-face interaction with teachers and friends makes learning less engaging and staying focused more difficult.

For 12-year-old Sara Al-Qahtani, adapting to online classes has been relatively easy. She already knows how to log in, submit assignments and communicate with teachers through digital platforms. What she misses most is the social side of school.

“Studying itself is not difficult because we already know how to use everything,” she was quoted as saying by Arab News. “But I miss seeing my friends. At school, we talk between classes and have breaks together. Online, when the class finishes, you just leave.”

Schools in Riyadh shifted to remote learning on October 11 after attacks on King Khalid International Airport. Parents were informed that lessons would be conducted online through Thursday.

The move has brought back a familiar model of education for Saudi students, many of whom relied on the Ministry of Education’s Madrasati platform during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue their studies from home.

Yet, while students and teachers are more comfortable with the technology than they were during the pandemic, the challenges of learning outside the classroom have not disappeared.

Distractions at home

For 15-year-old Abdullah Al-Harbi, maintaining concentration is the biggest challenge of online education.

“At home there are more distractions,” he said. “You have your phone next to you and you can get distracted very easily. In school, you are already there and focused on the class.”

Remote learning does offer practical advantages. Al-Harbi said skipping the daily journey to school gives him more time in the morning, while moving from one lesson to another is as simple as joining the next online session.

However, he believes classroom teaching remains more effective when students need help understanding a lesson.

“If I don’t understand something, it’s easier to ask the teacher when we’re actually in class,” he said.

Not all students share that preference. For some, avoiding traffic and studying in familiar surroundings makes online education a more convenient alternative.

Abdullah Abudaqqa, a Jordanian student living in Riyadh, said remote classes allow students to save valuable time and devote more attention to their studies.

“Personally, I think distance learning is better because attending school in person takes time. You have to travel to school, and the roads are usually crowded with traffic,” he was quoted as saying by Arab News.

“With online learning, you can stay at home, focus more on your studies, and feel more comfortable at the same time.”

Abudaqqa acknowledged that students have different learning preferences, with some valuing the structure of a physical classroom while others appreciate the flexibility of studying from home.

More sleep and comfort appeal to students

For Abdulrahman Adil, a Sudanese student in Riyadh, the transition has brought several benefits, particularly the extra time available without a daily commute.

“The only thing that changed is the education. It’s online now, and I think personally that is better,” he said.

Adil said remote classes allow students to sleep longer and avoid lengthy journeys, especially those who live far from their schools. He also believes studying at home may help some students concentrate better than they do in traditional classrooms.

Hesham Aeid, a Syrian resident in Riyadh, similarly welcomed the shift, describing online education as an opportunity to create a more comfortable learning environment.

“I think online education is a nice experiment, or a nice idea, as it helps students focus more and feel safer,” he said.

Aeid said some students feel uncomfortable or confined within school buildings, making distance learning a more suitable option for them.

“That’s why I think online education is best for us,” he added.

Teachers face the challenge of keeping students engaged

The transition has also required teachers to adapt their teaching methods to a virtual environment, where gauging students’ understanding and maintaining participation can be more difficult.

Noura Al-Otaibi, a teacher in Riyadh, said online lessons require additional effort to ensure students remain involved.

“In the classroom, I can see immediately if someone isn’t following or doesn’t understand,” she was quoted as saying by Arab News. “Online, that’s more difficult, so I have to keep asking questions and making sure they participate.”

Experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic has helped make the latest transition smoother, she said. Teachers, students and parents are already familiar with the platforms and the basic requirements of remote learning.

“Before, everyone was learning how to use the platforms at the same time — teachers, students and parents,” Al-Otaibi said. “Now the students already know what to do. The challenge is keeping the same level of interaction.”

As Riyadh students adjust to the temporary return to online classrooms, their experiences highlight both the convenience and the limitations of remote education. While avoiding traffic, gaining extra rest and studying from home appeal to many, the loss of everyday classroom interaction remains a concern for others.

The experience underscores that familiarity with digital learning can make the transition easier, but technology alone cannot fully replicate the social connections, immediate feedback and shared experiences of attending school in person.