SAUDI STUDENTS ABROAD

The number of divorces among Saudi students on scholarships abroad is increasing, according to the Ministry of Higher Education. “Approximately eight Saudi couples divorced overseas last year,” said Abdullah Al-Musa, deputy minister for scholarships affairs, while speaking at an assembly of scholarship students in Riyadh. Al-Musa, who was addressing 1,267 students of both genders planning to travel to the US, Australia, Europe and Asia next year, urged student couples to work hard and support each other. Most marital disputes that occur between student couples are due to an inability to adapt to a new way of life and cope with a totally alien culture in a foreign country. Many students consider foreign scholarships as opportunity to travel abroad as tourists. Thousands of students travel abroad on scholarships each year. Students, some of whom are from rural communities, find it challenging to live abroad and cope with cultural differences and the liberties offered by Western countries.