Teachers who are assigned to schools far away from their homes  often depend on husbands or male family members to drive them to work. In the event of divorce, such women can claim they no longer have a dependable mode of transportation.

Manal, 27, says her husband wakes up at 4:30 a.m. every work day to drive her to a rural school where she works.

“We have been waiting to be transferred for the last three years,” she said. “I have been taking this strenuous journey for the last four years.”

The National Committee for Traffic Safety has reported that on average there are about four accidents per 100 people in the country, but 6.2 accidents for every 100 women teachers. These women often travel by bus. 

“Fear and exhaustion are our companions on a daily basis,” said Manal.

“The lives of teachers, mothers and wives are being wasted on those rocky and dangerous roads.”

There are no precise figures on the number of women seeking teaching jobs closer to home.