By Abdulaziz Al-Rabie
MAKKAH — Teachers of a vandalized primary school in Makkah demanded more protection from the authorities.
Makkah Education Affairs spokesman Talal Al-Raddadi said the teachers of Salma Bint Hamza Primary School in Al-Khaldiyah District asked the authorities to take additional measures to ensure their safety and security.
The school met with opposition from members of the Burmese community living in the neighborhood after several non-Saudi teachers were replaced as part of a move to Saudize schools run by foreign communities.
“The parents of the students who are mostly Burmese were not pleased with the Saudization plan,” said the school's principal, Jawahir Howsawi.
She said she also received threats from mothers of students who were not accepted into the school due to a lack of places.
“The teachers demanded that the directorate post a security guard at the school,” he said.
The teachers who reported constant harassment and threats on their way to school and back also demanded a police car be parked in front of the school all the time, said Al-Raddadi.
Howsawi said the teachers had told her that if the threats continued they would not be able to report to work.
The teachers also demanded solutions for the overcrowded classrooms at the school. The school currently has 420 students, while the capacity of the building is only 200 students.
The teachers met with Director of Makkah Education Affairs Mohammad Al-Harthy on Sunday. “The director responded to the teachers saying all of their demands will be met. The directorate aims to fully support the schools that had their status rectified this academic year,” said Al-Raddadi.
He also said the directorate is currently interviewing security guards to hire them for the school.
“Teachers who will be absent from work will have to present a valid excuse.
Otherwise, they will be penalized. The school recently hired 14 Saudi teachers to replace non-Saudi teachers,” said Al-Raddadi.
He added that the directorate received reports from the teachers of teenagers blocking the school’s ventilation system and harassing them as they enter and leave the school.
