Prompted by the low international ranking of most Saudi universities, the Education Affairs and Scholarly Research Committee at the Shoura Council is working on a comprehensive study of higher education with a view to bringing about necessary reforms. The findings and recommendations are expected to be forwarded to the Council of Ministers for approval.

Shoura Council member Kheder Al-Qurashi stated that the study seeks to hold the Kingdom’s universities accountable for any substandard rankings in the future and ensure their compliance with the international standards of academic accreditations. The study also proposes that the Saudi higher education system focus on total independence of universities, leading to a better climate for academic excellence. According to Okaz, Ahmad Bin Mufarrih, deputy chairman of the Shoura Council’s Education Committee, said that this branch of the council was also working on reforms of the existing public education in our schools, the intention being to overhaul the present system so often blamed for the substandard quality of high school graduates.

For many parents, this is welcome news. Finally, the Shoura Council is sinking its teeth into issues that matter to a substantial number of the Kingdom’s inhabitants. But there are other areas as well that the council should be looking into and come up with recommendations.

Consider that an increasing number of women are joining the Kingdom’s work force and not all of them are employed in a segregated environment. Unfortunately for some, they become victims of sexual innuendos and harassment by their male superiors or colleagues. Some women complain that employers subtly demand sexual favors while others, particularly those working in the marketing sector, mention of prospective clients flirting with them and pushing forward indecent proposals.

Most of these women feel they have to keep quiet to earn a living and not incur the wrath of their superiors or fellow workers. They need the income from their jobs. And yet they remain abused. While Islamic laws are very clear on the respect accorded to women regardless of the environment they are in, such laws should be seconded by clear and concise business environment laws dealing with sexual harassment at work or anywhere else.

The Shoura Council should begin to work on a codified system of laws that protect female workers in the market place. These laws must then be publicly announced, and employers of mixed-genders must be held accountable for any violations. Prison terms and hefty fines must be enforced on those who break such laws, thereby allowing women to perform their professional duties without the threat of further harassment. No woman should be allowed to fall victim at the risk of losing her job.

Another area our Shoura members can look at is the pension system for civil servants. As it stands now, most pensioners are often living alone with their spouses, their children having grown up and married with families of their own. The retirees’ dependent usually is the spouse, and as long as the pensioner is alive, the couple get on with their lives on what the pensioner brings in. Over the years, he or she has contributed to the pension scheme through payroll deductions.

The problem arises when the pensioner passes away. The pension is then treated in accordance with inheritance laws, and the surviving spouses find themselves on the receiving end of a tiny portion of the original pension. Pensions should not be treated as such, as workers have contributed monthly payments over the years toward this scheme.

The full amount must continue to be paid until the death of the remaining dependent. This is the least that is expected by those who have contributed through their toils in previous years. Let the remaining dependent(s) live in dignity in their golden years. This was bought and paid for through a lifetime of hard work and personal cash contributions.

Now would the Shoura Council take up these issues for a serious study?