Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The project to transport female teachers will start with the beginning of the second school semester on Jan. 21, the Tatweer (development) company, an executive arm of the Ministry of Education, announced on Sunday.

The company said the project will provide transport to female teachers in Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, Asir and Jazan regions.

Female teachers will be transported on 61 mini-buses, the capacity of each is 12 passengers.

Initially the buses will serve 64 schools.

The company said the buses are not more than three years old and have all the necessary safety requirements. It said female teachers will be transported from their homes to schools and back.

Schools should be about 150km-250km away from the homes of teachers.

Each female teacher will have to pay a monthly sum of SR500 as transportation fees while the actual cost of their monthly transportation is SR2,500. The company will pay the balance.

At a later stage, more than 1,000 female teachers in various parts of the Kingdom will be provided transportation.

The company said it is aiming to provide transportation services to about 6,000 female teachers in all areas of the Kingdom from next year.

Only Saudis will be allowed to drive these buses. The drivers should not be under 30 years of age or more than 60.

The drivers should be accompanied by their female mahrams such wives, sisters, mothers.