MAKKAH: The Cultural Skills Competition for school students will be held on May 28 under the auspices of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Education Minister Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan. The national competition was launched in a partnership between the two ministries. The Ministry of Education said that the competition — which includes male and female students from primary grades four, five and six, as well as students from the intermediary and secondary stages— is the first of its kind in the Kingdom. In the event’s closing ceremony, victorious students in the six categories of the competition — literature, film, theater, music, visual arts and heritage — will be honored. An exhibition will also be held during the ceremony for students to display their work in the competition. The competition’s six cultural courses aim to encourage creativity and enterprise among Saudi school students, as well as foster their involvement in the Kingdom’s growing arts and culture sphere. Talented male and female students in culture and art will receive support through the competition, which also aims to preserve and raise awareness of Saudi cultural heritage, encouraging students to take up and practice a range of traditions. “Cultural competitions held among students are of great importance in promoting their learning and personal development. They also provide them with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and develop their skills in a variety of cultural and academic fields,” said Talent Supervisor Fahd Al-Yousifi. “These competitions aim to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of various subjects, including history, geography, science and arts. An important outcome students can benefit from in these competitions is learning to develop their skills. “Cultural competitions work on encouraging students to develop their skills, including critical thinking, effective communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills, which can help them improve their academic performance and prepare them for having the requirements of their future job,” he added. “These competitions also promote amusement and entertainment, as they provide students with an opportunity to entertain themselves and enjoy participating in different areas of culture, as they are an enjoyable way to learn and have fun,” said Al-Yousifi. The Cultural Skills Competition will also teach students the values of tolerance and respect toward different cultures and religions, he added. Student competitions can motivate students to achieve academic and personal excellence, as well as build fruitful relationships with teachers and colleagues, Al-Yousifi said.