The transport system that helps more than 500 teachers commute to schools each day in Asir was facing an uncertain future Sunday with several companies halting operations fear of being fined up to SR50,000 for not employing Saudi drivers. Consequently, many teachers stopped going to school.

The owner of a company that specializes in transporting teachers, Amer Al-Asiri, said that the company and other companies suffered heavy losses after amending the sponsorship of their drivers who have been working with them for years.

“Every once in a while, we are surprised by the inspection rounds conducted by the Ministry of Transport, wherein they impose fines of no less than SR5,000 for each foreign driver and SR1,000 for Saudi drivers who don’t have an operating card from the ministry,” he added.

He hoped all drivers could become Saudis, but Saudis don’t want this type of work because transporting teachers is difficult due to the long distance between their residence and the school, which at times can be as much as 180 km.

Owners of establishments that work in transporting teachers called for reviewing the position of foreign drivers, because they are bound with more than 500 contracts with teachers, and because Saudis don’t like to work as bus drivers. Some Saudis work in the sector on temporary basis and leave the company as soon as they get a government job.

A number of establishments work in transporting teachers from their homes in Abha, Khamis Mushait and Ohod Rofaida to their schools in southern Thahran, Sorat Obaida, Al-Harja, Tihama, Qahtan, Tareeb and Al-Areen. Some buses leave just after the dawn prayer and don’t return before the afternoon prayer.