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RIYADH: ����ֱ��’s ministries of culture and education have launched an Arts and Culture Academy, the first government-run school of its kind in the Kingdom. 

The initiative aims to identify and develop talented young people, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently. 

In its inaugural year, the academy will operate in Riyadh and Jeddah, admitting students in the fourth grade of primary school and first grade of intermediate school.

The academy combines accredited academic curricula with specialized cultural programs in a stimulating and enriching learning environment, the SPA added. 

Initially, it will target students with talent in drawing, acting, music and singing. The plan is to expand to all educational levels and regions of the Kingdom. 

Students will follow the standard Ministry of Education curriculum alongside intensive cultural programs in a balanced daily schedule. 

The school day is divided into two sessions: morning for academic work and afternoon for cultural activities, according to the SPA. 

The academy will open in the 2025/2026 academic year at Al-Nakheel district in Riyadh for boys, and Al-Sheraa district in Jeddah for girls.

Admission has three stages: online registration, performance evaluation and interview, and admission notification. Students are admitted based on seat availability.

Students can apply at: engage.moc.gov.sa/cultural-talents-schools/#faq.

RIYADH: ����ֱ�� shared its experience of advancing water security and sustainability in a region of extreme water scarcity during the SDG 6 Water Action Agenda Special Event in New York.

The event was held on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at the UN’s headquarters, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

It followed UN-Water’s recognition of ����ֱ�� as one of the countries showing clear and measurable progress in integrated water resources management under SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 6.

The Kingdom’s delegation, led by Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, the deputy minister for water at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, presented ����ֱ��’s approach to accelerating the progress of SDG 6.

The event spotlighted successes in the sector and countries making significant strides. ����ֱ�� was highlighted in the report as a success story for its rapid progress in integrated water resources management, the SPA added.

Al-Shaibani said that the Kingdom’s efforts had brought notable improvements in efficiency, coordination, and service quality between 2017 and 2023.

The Kingdom’s integrated water resources management indicator rose from 57 percent to 83 percent during this period, marking one of the fastest global increases under SDG indicator 6.5.1, he said.

Al-Shaibani stressed that strong support from the Kingdom’s leadership had enabled significant structural and organizational reforms to aid sustainable water management.

With substantial investments to expand and modernize water infrastructure, these efforts had raised the Kingdom’s “enabling environment” score from 42 percent in 2017 to 87 percent in 2023, he added.