JEDDAH: Some of the teachers in Saudi Arabia renewed their demands such as housing and insurance, on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day on Monday.

The day is celebrated internationally on Oct. 5 every year in recognize the value of teaching as a noble, indispensable, often difficult, and self-sacrificial profession.

Saudi teachers used the occasion to vent their feelings while speaking to local media. According Ali Al-Zahrani, a schoolteacher, there is a crucial need to restore the “prestige of the teacher” and “social standing” as both have diminished because of some regulations. There must also be “more awareness about respect of the teacher in society, and strict laws that curb attacks on teachers by students and parents.”

His colleague, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, said: “employment grades should be calculated based on the years of service and differences in salaries.”

Another tearcher, Ibtisam Mohammed, said that the number of weekly classes should be no more than 20, as this would “yield good results for both the student and the teacher.”

Haifa Khaled said there must be medical insurance for teachers. “Why has this not been introduced by private health facilities for employees of the education sector till now,” she asked.

Demands for housing have also not gone unnoticed, and teachers are calling for special housing for teachers or the introduction of a housing allowances in light of rising annual rent for housing.

The world has been celebrating World Teachers’ Day every year since 1994.