The Ministry of Finance has allegedly rejected a request from the Education Ministry to hire thousands of guards for public and private schools because it would be too costly, according to sources.

The Finance Ministry allegedly refused because it would cost around SR4 billion, saying there was no allocation for this spending in the budgets of the education and Civil Service ministries.

A source said the project would have seen 60,000 guards of both genders employed at the country’s 33,000 schools.

However, efforts are underway to convince the finance ministry to reverse its decision.

The Education Ministry, under former minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, had submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Finance Ministry to hire the school guards.

The source said the schools need guards to maintain discipline among students, especially at the start and end of classes every day. They would also be able to control students at cafeterias, the source said.

In addition, guards would monitor students to prevent various problems including sexual abuse, the exchange of inappropriate videos, and the distribution of drugs.

Prince Khaled bin Abdullah bin Saud, chairman of the education committee at the Shoura Council, said the ministry “badly needs” qualified civilian security guards to maintain peace and safety of students and staff members. It was also needed at the country’s universities.

There was “no doubt” this requires a “big budget and much more efforts in terms of training, supervision, follow up and control,” he said.

However, the education ministry must determine the exact number of guards needed, level of qualification required, and the financial cost of hiring them.

He said this was part of the development at schools, which includes upgrading of curricula, school buildings and equipment.