Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Thirteen private schools have laid off their staff and shut down because they cannot comply with the Ministry of Labor's decision to increase the salaries of Saudi teachers to a set minimum. The decision was issued last year. Malik Bin Talib, chairman of the committee on private schools, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the majority of schools which shut down were for girls. “These schools have declared bankruptcy and have had to lay off employees and stop taking in applications from new students for the second semester,” Talib added. More private schools may follow suit and shut down because the majority of parents have rejected the increased tuition fees these schools have set to meet the MoL's requirement for raising salaries of Saudi teachers, Talib noted. Those parents might send their children to public schools instead, he said. The committee formed by members from the Ministry of Education should listen to the demands set by the committee on private schools, Talib pointed out. Girls' schools are facing more difficulty complying with the new decision because they are required to achieve cent percent Saudization across the board, according to Talib. Boys' schools have lesser restrictions. Meanwhile, the director of educational information in Jeddah Education Administration said that the ministry's decision was binding decision and all private schools, without exception, must comply with it.
