Teachers who have been interviewed by the Ministry of Education have not received permits to prove that they have undergone the eligibility process.

Teachers have consequently been forced to stay at home to avoid possible arrest in the event of labor inspections.

With raids beginning Monday following the end of the six-month grace period given to illegal expatriates to rectify their status, a large number of teachers who were unable to transfer their sponsorship onto their school administration have stopped going to work, fearing arrest and deportation.

As a result, schoolwork has suffered, affecting students’ education and alarming parents.

“Most teachers in my son’s school have abstained from work for about a week now and this is affecting their studies,” says Abu Alam, the father of a student at a private school in Jeddah.

“The parents were not informed of any holiday and students were at school but were not given schoolwork due to the absence of many teachers. They said teachers have not been attending school due to fear of inspection by Ministry of Labor officials,” he said.

He said that in situations like this, the school must declare a holiday and inform parents not to send their children until administrative matters have been settled.

Sadiyah Jamshed, a science teacher at a private school in Dammam, said she has not been going to school since Saturday, as she is still awaiting interview with Ministry of Education officials.

“I had to prepare study material ahead of time to compensate for my absence and the school promised to arrange classes with a substitute teacher,” said Jamshed. “A group of teachers were sent just yesterday and another group, including me, will go for interview tomorrow. A few of us were asked not to attend school until we have undergone these procedures.”

“Senior students and prefects were tasked with tending to primary classes to compensate for absent teachers,” says Nina Mussafer, the mother of an 8th grader at an international school in Jeddah. “My daughter’s class was canceled and they were asked to act as substitute teachers for the primary sections.”

Nina said the school had informed senior students that the situation would continue for about a week. “I am worried since my daughter’s studies are being affected during this period.”

Some private schools were closed for two days, as teachers were called for interview with officials from the Ministry of Education and were not able to attend to classes on those days.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education issued a memo to private and international schools in the Kingdom explaining procedures that need to be undertaken by expatriate teachers.

The memo also mentioned that schools will issue a permit for each teacher after they complete the interview sessions with the ministry. The permit will serve as proof and will allow them to work legally at the school with the approval of the Ministry of Education.