A number of teachers working in Jazan schools expressed their frustration for being forced to teach subjects they are not specialized in to cover teacher shortage either because of absenteeism or insufficient teachers.

They claimed this is not in the pupils' best interest and this practice limits the employment of university graduates who know these subjects well, and who are waiting for job opportunities.

According to the teachers, they have to take on the new job as a favor to their principals, even though they know this violates regulations and harms the education process.

Eisa Ahmad, lab teacher, recounts how the principal asked him to teach arts when he started working. He was embarrassed, especially because he had little knowledge and experience in the subject, but he had to concede to the principal’s wishes. He found himself teaching art for three years, and never went back to his original specialty as lab teacher.

Abdullah Hakami, who is specialized in science, said he has been assigned to teach Arabic in an elementary school, while history teacher Abdulaziz Mohammad, said he works as a physical education teacher. “I almost forgot my specialty, and don’t know what to do with it, especially since this is the case with many teachers, and there is not much we can do about it,” he said.

If it was a question of covering for other teachers it would be fine, they all agree, even though teachers with the same specialty should cover for absent ones. But educators are befuddled that it has become a permanent thing.

In girls’ schools the matter isn’t much different; some teachers said they are not happy teaching other subjects because this has a negative effect on the scientific material. According to teachers, this practice is the result of a lack of understanding when making an inventory of the schools’ needs from teachers.

“I have been assigned to teach Islamic Education, even though I have a major in Arabic Language, which put me in embarrassing situations with the girls,” Sarah Mohammad, teacher, told Arab News.

Graduates who have majored in these specialties claim only people who are specialized can teach these subjects, and if done otherwise, it is a clear transgression on their right of employment. They pointed out that this practice gives the impression statistics amongst education directorates in Jazan an Sibya are incorrect.

Press spokesman for Sibya education directorate, Nasir Al-Nhari, said the education law stipulates that intermediary and high school subjects should be taught by specialized teachers.

Primary schools needs teachers with a public education and they should be qualified to teach any specialty, he added. However, there are some counterparts for subjects, for instance Arabic Language, that can be taught by Islamic Education specialists.