The Education Ministry has revealed that many of its officials hold degrees from universities not recognized by the Kingdom – mostly from institutions in Sudan, Jordan, Egypt and Yemen. This revelation comes in the wake of a senior official being investigated for having a doctorate degree from Al-Nilain University in Khartoum, Sudan. The Kingdom does not recognize this university. It is also alleged that the official did not attend the university at all. Dr. Tenaidhib Bin Awwadah Al-Faidi, Director General of Education in Madina, disclosed that his department has uncovered many staff members in administrative and educational posts who hold unrecognized degrees and certificates. Al-Faidi confirmed that since 1988, the Kingdom only recognizes postgraduate degrees of applicants if they were sent on scholarship to a particular university. If the student was not approved to study at that university, then the degree will remain unrecognized “even if issued by a recognized university”. The General Administration for Education in Madina disclosed that after scrutinizing the qualifications of doctorate degree holders among its personnel it was found that only three of its leading officials had obtained degrees from recognized universities “through a scholarship”. One director general of girls' education and five other leading officials are working with unrecognized doctorate degrees. The official, who is under investigation, was allegedly awarded the degree by Al-Nilain University in Khartoum on Sep. 12, 2005. The same sources said that the director of education presented the degree to the Education Administration in Madina to be added to his job qualifications. He was appointed as director of education in the governorate in August 2007. Muhammad Sulaiman Bin Hassan, Director General of the Ministry of Civil Service, said that there were no regulations to deal specifically with such cases, particularly if the employment or promotion is based on an illegitimate degree. He said the department has the power to decide whether to fire or reclassify such a person. The department, however, will have to ban him from using “Dr.” officially before his name and refer its decision for Royal approval or to the Supreme Council for Civil Service.
