By Abdullah Al-Ghamdi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Ministry of Education has announced the file on medical insurance for teachers has been shelved until further notice as the ministry cannot find an appropriate deal from insurance companies.

The Center of Teachers’ Services (Tabjeel) contradicts itself as its director Ali Al-Minai said two weeks ago that the center was signing a contract to provide medical insurance for teachers. He also said that the only step left was for the minister of education to sign the contract. Then on Teachers’ Day, the ministry announced the new benefits package for teachers and teachers were surprised to find the package did not include any medical insurance.

The file for medical insurance for teachers has been open since March of 2017 with no significant progress until now. The ministry initially allowed teachers to subscribe to their desired insurance company but only 11,000 teachers registered for a company, which led the insurance companies to withdraw from dealing with the ministry due to low returns.

Al-Rajhi Company ceased its insurance services to the teachers in April 2018 saying the contract between the company and the ministry was not renewed.