Retirement surge puts school management at risk amid bonus uncertainty

• The uncertainty about the possible cancellation or reduction of end-of-service bonuses, due to a lack of clear government response, was a major factor driving retirement requests.

Amidst the government’s silence on proposals to cancel or reduce the end-of-service bonus for state employees, retirement requests at the Ministry of Education have surged. This could lead to a significant crisis for schools this academic year, with several schools at risk of lacking proper management. The ministry may need to implement temporary assignments to address the impending shortage, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

In this context, educational sources revealed to the newspaper that since the start of work on the 8th, school districts have received a significant number of retirement requests from school supervisors and others.

One region alone receives at least five to six requests daily, indicating a high number of expected retirees that may exceed the ministry’s ability to manage the vacant positions. This could leave schools without sufficient officials, jeopardizing the educational process.

The sources noted that the uncertainty about the possible cancellation or reduction of end-of-service bonuses, due to a lack of clear government response, was a major factor driving retirement requests.

Additionally, stricter procedures and monitoring of attendance and departure through fingerprint devices also contributed to these requests, particularly among those who have completed the service period required for a full retirement salary.

Sources pointed out that the recent statement from the ministry, which denied any intention to cancel the bonus, was insufficient. Many found the statement unclear, as it addressed only the issue of cancellation and did not deny the possibility of reducing or partially eliminating the bonus. This ambiguity led some to believe that such intentions might exist, prompting them to request retirement before potentially losing the bonus.

Additionally, the most recent retirement request was submitted on Wednesday by the Acting Director of Educational Affairs, who also serves as an educational phase monitor. She proactively submitted her application at the start of the workday, possibly out of concern over upcoming decisions that are widely anticipated.

In response, Mansour Al-Dhafiri, the Undersecretary of the Public Education Sector, urged school district directors to promptly review the retirement applications submitted by school supervisors. He emphasized the need to provide a detailed report within two days so that the sector can take the necessary actions.