ABHA – The Ministry of Education (MOE) has laid down new requirements for private schools to select their teaching staff. Teachers applying for a job at private schools must pass the test administered by the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education. Those who pass the test will be allowed to work on condition that their contract are renewed every five years. The new regulations by the ministry seek to regulate the procedures used for selecting and hiring teachers and put an end to the common practice of private schools increasing tuition fees without warning parents. Teachers who do not satisfy the new conditions will be given a grace period ending at the end of the next school year. They should comply with the regulations before the grace period ends. The regulations include educators working as principals, vice-principals, advisers, supervisors, learning resources managers, behavior trainers and laboratory technicians. Male and female teachers should not have prior criminal records and should be computer literate with adequate knowledge in their respective field of specialization. They should also pass an interview and extensive medical tests. The ministry said private schools should keep a database of their teaching staff with personal information including previous employers and their contact numbers. — SG
