Riyadh, Sep 5(Arab News): A royal decree approving workshare arrangements where two teachers share one position aims to reduce unemployment in the sector.

The royal decree has called for a framework to be put in place within six months and also for more employment opportunities for women in education.

There are more than 90,000 women teachers who are waiting for a job in the teaching sector.

Many of them have the unenviable choice of either accepting a teaching position at schools in remote areas far away from home or stay unemployed.

The Shoura Council had discussed previously different ways to tackle the increasing numbers of unemployed graduate teachers.

They also discussed how to better staff schools in remote rural areas that contain small numbers of students yet require more teachers.

Member of the council’s education committee Khalil Al-Ibrahim revealed in an interview with online newspaper Mobasher Al-Arabiya that fellow members have suggested building educational condominiums where students from nearby villages and towns are taught by local teachers to minimize traveling and make best use of available teaching resources in these areas.

The royal decree also directed that 52,000 jobs be made available in the teaching sector for women while work should be found for all unemployed teachers as quickly as possible. It also directed that concerned authorities such as the ministries of Education, Finance, Civil Service should act immediately to find solutions to the issue.

According to a source at the Ministry of Education, a committee has been established to develop a mechanism as per the royal decree and it will be announced soon.