The governorate has granted permission to some teachers to continue lessons due to a lack of Saudi Qur’an teachers. The non-Saudi teachers have been allowed to resume teaching as long as they meet a set of stringent requirements.

“We are required to follow the new rules defined by the Makkah Governorate and allow some non-Saudi teachers to return to work,” said Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Hanafy, chairman of the Charitable Society for Holy Qur’an Memorization (Makkah Region).

“After we stopped a large number of non-Saudi Qur’an teachers last November, we expected some of them would be allowed back. Unfortunately, we’re unable to take all of them back because of the governorate’s difficult requirements,” said Hanafy.

“There are five requirements that non-Saudi Qur’an teachers need to meet to resume teaching tahfeez classes. The first requirement is that they should have a degree in Qur’anic studies, they should transfer their sponsorship (kafala) to us, they should have a certificate in good morals, and they should have a clear criminal record both in their home country and here in the Kingdom,” said Hanafy.

He added that the most difficult part of the rules is the requirement that the teacher’s job title on the iqama should be listed as Qur’an teacher. “This is impossible because such a title does not exist and is not recorded at the Labor Office,” said Hanafy.

The Charitable Society for Holy Qur’an Memorization has also formed a committee to study the possibility of Saudizing the sector within three years. “Our new plan is to hire only Saudi Qur’an teachers. No new jobs would be available to non-Saudi Qur’an teachers. Non-Saudi Qur’an teachers who will be allowed back will only enjoy their positions for three years because we’re required to complete the Saudization plan within three years,” he added.

“We only have 100 Saudi Qur’an teachers. Now we need more qualified Saudi teachers who would also be willing to work for us. Saudi teachers are only required to have certificates proving they have memorized the entire Qur’an or even a part of it,” said Hanafy.

To encourage Saudis to teach the Qur’an, the Makkah Governorate is also to launch a charity fund to collect donations for Saudi Qur’an teachers. “Before November 2010, salaries were the same for both Saudis and non-Saudis. Now it will be double for Saudi teachers. In the past, the teachers who had themselves memorized part of Qur’an would receive SR500 a month, while teachers who had memorized the entire Qur’an would receive SR700. From now on, Saudi teachers will receive something between SR1,000 and SR1,400,” said Hanafy.