JEDDAH: Nearly five years after the late King Abdullah ordered that all substitute teachers be made permanent, many teachers are still awaiting permanent contracts.

A major concern for the substitute teachers is delayed access to allowances and retirement benefits since years of work are not calculated toward required service years for these benefits.

Substitute teachers are calling on officials to intervene and solve the issue justly and firmly, and to facilitate procedures to secure their contracts in line with the royal decree.

“I was a teacher under contract, and upon issuance of the royal decree, I was pleased as I believed this would help offer stability to my circumstances, but this quickly began to fade due to ‘slow procedures’ resulting from dividing us into batches,” says Ishqa Al-Anzi.

“Each year of delay in turn harms us in the long term when it comes to retirement benefits,” she says.

Substitute teachers said the ministry of education decided when the royal decree was issued that the decision take effect starting at the beginning of the year following the decision and that the process be completed within three years but this has not been the case.

They said they are especially concerned that their names have not yet been announced to date.

“We hear a lot about delayed projects, but it’s the first time we hear about a delayed royal order, or one that is amended or still under studied,” one of them said.

“We are calling for rapid application of the royal order, which covers various contracts, including substitutes, morning shift and night shift contracts, and others.”

One substitute teacher says she was forced to be hired as an administrator, despite her teaching background and experience, while others claim permanent contracts are given to those without relevant experience.

Shoura Council member Wafaa Teebah stated: “The council discussed two reports concerning the ministries of civil service and education, and the human resources committee proposed that prior years of service to those hired under band 105 be calculated toward retirement and that these teachers be hired.”

She says she supports the proposal, and that all rights and benefits of substitute teachers must be fulfilled, including losses they have endured in the process.

She called for reconsideration and implementation of the royal decree issued in 1432H, which states that substitutes with relevant experience be appointed with permanent contracts as part of the teaching faculty and not as administrators, and relevant parties correct any previous measures taken in this regard.