The Cabinet approved on Monday the creation of 12,600 new school administrative positions at the Ministry of Education's Girls' Education Department. The new fourth-rank education posts are designed to address the situation of graduates from women teacher institutes who have remained unemployed for over 15 years since becoming qualified. The posts are to be approved by the Ministry of Finance over three years beginning in the fiscal year of 1432 (2011), with the ministry to approve 4,200 positions per year. The Cabinet said that priority in appointments would be given based on grade and date of graduation, and appointments will take into account place of residence and the needs of schools in each city or region. The formation of a committee comprised of representatives from the ministries of Civil Service, Finance, and Education, was ordered to ensure the completion of employment procedures. Also approved Monday were a draft anti-drug regulation and amendments to allowances for employees working in the seizure and disposal of illegal narcotics. Meeting at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah and chaired by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Cabinet was briefed on the week's communications with friendly countries over bilateral cooperation and regional and international developments. Minister of Culture and Information Abdul Aziz Khoja said the Cabinet praised recommendations from the GCC Foreign Ministers meeting Saturday in Jeddah, particularly regarding the Iran nuclear issue. The ministers also welcomed the Organization of the Islamic Conference's Dushanbe Declaration condemning terrorism and hatred towards Islam and discrimination against Muslims.
