JEDDAH, 2 October 2003 -— The education department in Makkah selected a hardworking teacher to go on a training course to learn English, meanwhile advising other applicants that the course was full. The chosen candidate had died the previous year. The letter informing the dead man of his good fortune was signed by the director of the department, as were the rejection letters wishing the other applicants better luck next time. Teachers say the department’s computer may be to blame for the oversight and expressed the hope that future programs may be open to greater numbers of living teachers.
