Saudi Gazette report AHSA — It has been four months since 83 government employees were dismissed after only 10 months in service at the Ministry of Education, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported Tuesday. The ministry's spokesman said in a previous statement that the employees were fired after it was discovered that they had entered incorrect data in their job applications. However, the dismissed employees denied the accusation. The decision was issued in a letter from the general manager for financial and administrative affairs at the Ministry of Education. The letter referred to a directive by the deputy minister of civil services, to fire all employees who were not college graduates but occupied the positions of assistant administrator at grade six. The decision was devastating for the employees, as it left them with no jobs to support themselves and their families. Many of them had been employed at private companies but applied for the government jobs seeking better conditions and job security. The sacked employees say many of them even have to support their elderly parents in addition to their own families. Many of them are in debt and were counting on these jobs to settle their debts, they added. Now some of them have resorted to selling their belongings to provide for their dependents. They asked the concerned authorities to review the decision and reinstate them. Spokesman for the Ministry of Education Mohammad Al-Dekhaini said he would respond to the case, but 15 days have already passed without any response.
