The Ministry of Education has stated that government schoolteachers will as usual have 24 teaching classes per week and that despite rumors to the contrary there will be no increase in the teaching load. Mohammad Al-Dukhaini, Ministry of Education spokesman, said that there will be no increase in the number of classes taught per week, putting an end to the fears of female teachers about an increase in the teaching load when schools reopen after Ramadan. Reports that appeared in the media said that teachers would be responsible for 30 to 35 classes per week. “The Ministry of Education is drawing up schedules based on instructors teaching 24 classes every week,” said Al-Dukhaini. “The ministry is still working on assigning classes and arranging schedules for government schools around the Kingdom,” he added. Hana Mohammad, a physics teacher in Makkah, said, “35 classes every week would mean endless work especially with the large number of students in some classes, which requires extra effort.” Rabha Attar, a high school principal, said that an increase in teaching hours would not only affect the teacher, but that students would be negatively affected as well. “The teacher would not be able to do her best if she had to teach 35 classes a week. It would affect student understanding and classroom control as well,” she said. Schools are set to reopen on Oct. 3.
