The neglected condition of schools, high workload and little incentives are some of the factors that prompt schoolteachers to switch jobs. — Okaz photo Saudi Gazette report RIYADH – Dissatisfied with their jobs, schoolteachers across the Kingdom are increasingly opting for administrative positions. Reasons most cited were repetitive work, boredom and little chances for professional growth, a local daily reported. Teachers said they felt neglected by the Ministry of Education as the profession comes with little incentives, too many classes and mandatory participation in other school activities. “We spend all day going from one overcrowded classroom to another and in an educational system that neglects our talents and abilities,” said a teacher on condition of anonymity. “We have to teach students whose main concern is only to pass exams with complete disregard to other aspects of their education,” she added Many said as a result of abrupt changes in curricula and teachers' general poor training, they were never prepared to handle change or properly address the needs of students. Dr. Amer Al-Shahrani, deputy dean of quality and development at Abha's King Khalid University, said part of the problem is a failure on the part of authorities to realize that today's students have different needs and higher expectations of teachers. “We have larger classrooms as students are attending school in record numbers. Students now have other sources of information that puts teachers at a disadvantage when they cannot keep up with them. These children have different goals and we must acknowledge this and adjust our teaching methods accordingly. Failure to do this will only leave the students disappointed in teachers,” he said while emphasizing the need to increase teachers' job satisfaction. “Teaching is a difficult and challenging profession that requires patience and stamina. It is possible that the school environment may be a reason why teachers are leaving. We need to offer them better financial incentives, training and promote better relations between teachers, students and school administration,” he added. Dr. Fahad Abanumai, associate professor of Curricula and Teaching Methods at King Saud University in Riyadh, said teachers have become the weakest link in the Ministry of Education and Saudi society. “I believe 99 percent of school environments are toxic for teachers and the main reason behind this exodus we are witnessing. Teachers have to take on too many responsibilities and are given poorly equipped classrooms to teach in,” he said.
