JEDDAH, 11 May 2003 — The possibility of women being appointed regional directors of girls’ education in different parts of the Kingdom is not ruled out, according to a senior official involved in administrative reforms.
“The organization of the Education Ministry has taken into consideration the appointment of women at girls’ education departments,” Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sheqawi, chairman of the preparatory committee for administrative organization, told Okaz daily.
Al-Sheqawi “did not rule out the possibility of appointing women as directors of these departments in the Kingdom’s cities and regions,” the paper said.
The Arabic daily had earlier reported quoting Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed about the possibility of appointing a woman as deputy education minister.
Al-Sheqawi, who is also director-general of the Institute of Public Administration, said studies related to administrative reorganization included appointment of male and female undersecretaries for girls’ education.
Asked whether the position of undersecretary would be raised to deputy minister, he said: “I don’t want to say things before they happen because the details of the ministry’s organization have not yet been finalized.”
“But one thing I can tell you that the issue of appointing women in the department of girls’ education has been taken into consideration. In fact, it was one of the important considerations in the restructuring process,” he added.
A statement issued at the time of last week’s Cabinet reshuffle said the education minister will have two deputies for boys’ and girls’ education.
