Schools under the Ministry of Education are short of 7,000 teachers in subjects such as mathematics, technical education and physical education, according to a study published by the ministry recently.

“The ministry requires more than 2,378 mathematics teachers for secondary and middle level schools. Primary schools need 1,745 more math teachers. The shortfall of physical education teachers is 1,697 and technical education 1,203," said the study.

The ministry is considering options such as issuing permission to all graduates of teacher colleges to work in secondary and middle schools instead of only in primary schools. The ministry will also take steps to attract more graduates to areas where they are short.

In a related development, Rector of the College of Teachers at King Saud University Ali Al-Afnan warned the shortage of teachers would be acute, particularly in boys primary schools over the next five years.

Al-Afnan blamed the restructuring of teachers colleges and affiliating them to universities for the shortage of teachers, especially at primary level.

Under the present system no special attention is given to produce more teachers at primary levels, he said.

He suggested teacher graduates who cannot find jobs in their particular specializations should undergo special programs that enable them to teach other subjects in which there is a shortage of teachers. His college has been conducting a special diploma program with the aim of producing more math teachers for middle level schools, the rector said.

He did not rule out the possibility of the ministry recruiting foreign teachers to make up for the shortage.  He also blamed teacher training institutes for not taking steps to train the required number of teachers needed in the country. He suggested a merger of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education to ensure a more coordinated effort to produce teacher graduates needed in the job market.

In another development, the ministry’s Undersecretary for Buildings Fahd Al-Hammad said the government department has taken steps to restart the construction of 1,000 delayed school building projects. Al-Hammad said in a press statement that the ministry is also considering the closure of schools with less than 50 students.

He added that students of such schools would be put in other schools.  Currently some schools are run with only 10 or 15 students, he said. However, he assured the ministry would not close schools before conducting detailed studies.