A LARGE number of Saudis studying dentistry at private colleges across the Kingdom face difficulties in obtaining internships at dental clinics and hospitals. Students pay high tuition fees to go to these private dental colleges but face numerous obstacles that prevent them from completing their studies. One such obstacle is paying patients refusing to let trainee students examine them and instead preferring to be seen by a doctor, Al-Riyadh daily reported. All students interviewed by the newspaper agreed that it is common for patients to refuse to let a trainee dentist examine them. One student, who requested anonymity, said it is not easy to find a willing patient and even when they do, it is not easy to convince him to be examined by a trainee. "My colleagues and I sometimes go to malls and offer free services to expatriate workers but even then we get ourselves into tight spots with them," she said without elaborating. Another student, who requested anonymity, said most private dental colleges teach difficult curricula in class environments do not encourage students to study hard. "Some students leave their cities to attend private college but are then unable to find an internship back in their home cities where their families live. Often students pay patients to let them examine them. They pay money because the internship has a fixed duration and they have to examine a certain number of patients before the internship period is over. This adds another financial burden on students," she said. Students suggested the Ministry of Education should coordinate with private dental colleges and public hospitals so trainees can receive practical training opportunities they need in order to graduate. They also called on the Ministry of Health to provide free internship opportunities at dental centers it runs. They complained that some private dental colleges discriminate against students of certain backgrounds by allegedly favoring other students over them. In this regard, they suggested the Ministry of Education should no longer ask students to maintain a certain GPA, otherwise they risk losing their scholarships. "The scholarship issue puts students under constant pressure and prevents them from focusing on their studies because they feel insecure and unstable," said one student.
