Faisal Al-Johani
TWO conflicting scenes in our society, especially in the education sector, has increased my amazement and sorrow. In the first scene we see big difference between what we preach and practice. Although we speak about the need to protect women’s honor and give them due care, we see women teachers being appointed or transferred to schools in far off places without considering their safety. The condition of girl students at government schools is also equally pathetic.
A substantial number of people in our country are opposed to women driving and mixing of genders in public places. Women are also prevented from traveling without the permission of their parents, husbands and other male guardians. They are not allowed to get their things done at government departments or fulfill their civilian dealings such as renting or purchasing a house. It is argued all these restrictions have been made for the security of women and protecting their interests.
While making these false and unrealistic claims women are virtually thrown out of their neighborhood and cities to work at schools and health centers located far away. In some cases their male guardians have to drive them to those remote work places, crossing hundreds of kilometers. Government officials and religious leaders are not at all bothered about women teachers traveling with foreign drivers or living in residential buildings along with bachelors, who stay nearby their flats.
Let’s discuss the awful situation of our girl students in public schools where some 800 girls spend their rest time in narrow halls like animals staying in an enclosure. Their situation is no better at classrooms where about 50 girls sit in a 30-sq.m. room. Sometimes their destiny lies in the hand of the only guard of the school who will lock them inside and leave the place.
Another pathetic scene highlights the arrogance, intransigence and rigidity of our female school principals, managers and education supervisors. We cannot see such horrific examples of women officials, fortunately, at the Ministries of Commerce or Health and Culture and Information. I have the painful experience of meeting such women officials in Jeddah and becoming a victim of their arrogant behavior and hope other cities would not have them.
The mentality and attitude of these arrogant women directors and supervisors are quite opposite to what is required from them as they deal with students, parents and fellow teachers harshly, without showing the spirit of a single working team. It will be very difficult to deal with such women officials as they do not listen to you and nobody would be allowed even to meet them to discuss important matters such as taking your daughter to hospital during school hours or shifting her to another school.
These obstinate and rude women would cause hell for people who approach them for various reasons and make their lives miserable. These women should know that schools and educational centers are not their private property to impose their whims and fancies on others. They are appointed in those positions to listen to students and parents and meet their legitimate needs.
They should not insist that only a student’s mother should approach them to get things done. They should know that on many occasions mothers would not be able to visit the school. It’s high time we stop all this nonsense and deal with people in a more civilized and cultured manner. The present attitude and behavior of women school directors and education supervisors would give a bad impression about our religion and country apart from making the lives of students and parents difficult.
