JEDDAH: A number of private schools on Monday heeded the call of the education minister to ban intermediate schoolteachers from taking a break before the official half-yearly holiday, giving its staff leave as of Monday, instead of last Thursday.

A number of teachers described the ban as limited and in their interest. They welcomed the move as better late than never. They said their management told them their pay packet won't be deducted and they can make use of the holidays.

Most schools, however, rejected the call of the minister and promised to sue the ministry in the Special Administrative Court if they are forced to adopt the measure which is not legally binding.

Abeer Ghazawi, owner of a private school, said: "We won't keep quiet about such decisions that affect our schools, understanding the fact that private educators actually support the ministry and not the opposite."

She said they will pursue their cause through satellite channels and there are other owners who support their opinion. "The law has previously stopped decisions taken by the ministry," she added.

Zuhair Ghoneim, a member of the Private Education Committee in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on the ministry to remain as a supervisor only, according to the law. "We have contracts between us as private schools and teachers and we are governed by the regulations of the Labor Ministry and not the Ministry of Education and Civil Service.”