Saudi teachers boycotted Wednesday the Teacher's Day ceremony held by the Ministry of Education in protest of their demands not being met. Only expatriate teachers from private schools attended the event. Some teachers, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the boycott of the ceremony for the second consecutive year was a protest against the ministry for not giving them the rights they have been demanding in the past few years. The Bureau of Grievances, they said, has refused to look into their complaints. Faisal Bin Mo'amar, Deputy Minister of Education, said the ministry has several projects for teachers in the pipeline apart from the medical insurance issue some teachers are complaining about, but added that he cannot give the details, as they have not yet been approved, according to a report in Al-Hayat newspaper. He said that an extensive study would be conducted to assess teacher satisfaction and performance, and to satisfy their needs without delay. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Barak, Undersecretary for educational affairs at the ministry, said, “This year, the ministry is focusing on a number of programs for improving the educational atmosphere, general services for teachers, professional enrichment and social communication. Also, teachers' rooms will be provided with the latest educational technology. Teachers will also get identification cards that they can use in the public and private sectors to get more services.” He also said that the ministry will select teachers from all over the Kingdom to be sent on educational trips abroad, and that it will hold an exhibition of the latest developments in the field of educational technology and methods.” A website will be launched to enhance communication between teachers and officials, exchange suggestions, hold dialogues and exchange opinions and ideas in an educational framework, he added. __
