Community and private schools in the capital are gearing up to fulfill the requirements of the Ministry of Education by ensuring their teaching staff fall under their sponsorship.
The move comes in the wake of reports of raids on schools across the country by government officials. A number of schools closed as a result of these reports. The Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Education have both stated that raids were not carried out at schools.
A leading private school, with separate sections for 800 boys and girls, has issued an ultimatum to teachers that they either have their sponsorship transferred to the school or quit.
Most teachers at these schools are housewives who are not allowed to work in the Kingdom. Their sponsors are male members of their families.
The ministry has previously warned schools to regularize their staff.
A husband, whose wife got such a letter from the school, told Arab News yesterday that he was not willing to have his wife’s sponsorship transferred because it could lead to other problems. “I am not depending solely on my wife’s income, I can do without it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saudi women, who are interested in becoming teachers, have visited some schools in the city to submit job applications.
A leading school has sent out text messages to subscribers in its directory calling on qualified Saudi women to take up teaching posts.
A few private international schools in the capital, which voluntarily closed, re-opened yesterday. Teachers and parents were informed about the re-opening through a text message. The International Indian Public School in Riyadh is set to re-open on Saturday.
The Ministry of Education said that there was no need to panic about rumors of sudden inspections under the Nitaqat program at international community schools.
Dispelling news reports about the closure of some schools, the Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that all schools would function as normal. The respective supervisors of the schools have advised the principals to conduct classes as usual.
Management at various schools were alarmed when raids by labor inspectors were reported in several parts of the country well before the deadline given to small and medium enterprises to correct their Nitaqat status.
After making inquiries, the authorities at the Sri Lankan International School in Riyadh were told by the Education Ministry that the school should open as usual.
The school principal has sent out an SMS to all parents that the school will continue to operate normally.
Sources at the Ministry of Education explained that there are two categories of schools falling under its international section — community schools and private schools owned by locals.
