Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has launched an investigation into allegations by several female teachers of corruption and abuse of power by officials who appoint educators in remote areas.

The teachers made the allegations on “Al-Thamina ma Dawood” (Eight O’Clock with Dawood) TV show hosted by Dawood Al-Shirian on Monday.

The ministry said it would take action against officials found guilty. However, if the claims are unfounded, then the ministry “will take action against the channel, the host, and the guests who raised these claims,” the statement said, referring to the country’s laws governing excessive, unconstructive media criticism.

In two episodes, the popular show hosted a group of female teachers who complained about being sent to teach in remote areas, having unsafe transport, and unstable family lives.

The show starts with a reporter traveling with the teachers saying: “It is the daily journey of death,” to describe the vehicle and unsafe dirt roads on which they have to travel.

Teacher Abir Al-Asmar said her journey to her school, which is 300 km from Riyadh where she lives, starts at 4 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. along with seven other teachers, all squeezed into one sports utility vehicle. Each of them pays SR2,000 a month each for the transport.

Teacher Nayla Ahmed claimed she and a colleague were eligible for transfers from their school, which is 320 km from where she lives. However, ministry officials allegedly canceled the transfers, one day after they were approved due to a “glitch in the system.”

“To our surprise, two other teachers were transferred without that glitch,” she said. She also claimed that some ministry officials would only do things for teachers if they were “nice to them.”

“There is no time limit on working in a remote area. A teacher needs to be very nice and obedient to the principal if she wants a transfer,” she said.

There was a lack of clearly defined policies for transfers that has complicated the situation and increased the agony of the teachers, said teacher Tahani Al-Ibrahim.

“We don’t know on what basis the transfer requests are honored and why teachers are appointed in places other than where they live,” said teacher Maha Al-Ahmari.

Other teachers on the show claimed that some ministry officials refused to accept medical reports that would secure quick transfers.

A teacher, Nora, claimed this is what happened to her in Najran. “Is the need for teachers there more important than human life?” she asked.