Education: 10 Rajab is the deadline for early retirement 1447 and application requirements

The Saudi Ministry of Education has announced the timeline for finalizing early retirement procedures for teachers for the 1447 AH academic year, setting the 10th of Rajab as the final deadline for submitting applications. This announcement comes as part of the Ministry's efforts to streamline its workforce and ensure the stability of the educational process well before the start of the new academic year.

Digital transformation via the Fares system

In a move reflecting the Ministry’s commitment to digital transformation programs and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the Ministry confirmed that applications will be submitted exclusively through digital channels via the “Faris” self-service system, in order to completely eliminate the phenomenon of paper transactions, accelerate the pace of administrative procedures, and ensure the accuracy of the data entered.

Terms and conditions of early retirement

The ministry linked the acceptance of a termination of service request to several essential conditions to ensure the applicant's eligibility, most notably:

• Length of service: The requirement is that the teacher's net service must be 25 years or more.
• Date of leaving work: The end of the first semester of the year 1447 AH (corresponding to 21 Rajab) was set as the actual date for leaving work.
• Calculating net service: The ministry stressed the need to exclude periods of exceptional leave and days of deductions from the total service to ensure the completion of the regular period.

Exceptions in critical specialties and the importance of timing

Out of concern for students' well-being and to avoid creating a gap in the teaching staff, the Ministry exempted teachers of subjects classified as "high-demand" or critical subjects from the early mid-year retirement requirement. These teachers were required to remain in their classrooms until the end of the academic year to ensure the smooth implementation of the curriculum and the stability of the school schedule. This reflects a strategic plan to prevent any sudden shortages that could disrupt the educational field.

Required documents and the impossibility of withdrawal

The ministry clarified that submitting the application through the "Faris" system requires attaching a complete set of official documents, including:

• National ID photo.
• Bank IBAN certificate.
• Documented clearance certificates from the Social Development Bank, the Real Estate Development Fund, and the Agricultural Development Fund.
• A detailed service statement showing holidays and deductions.

The ministry concluded its directives with an important warning to all applicants, stressing that the early retirement decision becomes effective and final once it is approved by the authorized person, and the applicant does not have the right to reverse or withdraw it after that step, which requires male and female teachers to think carefully and make the decision with full conviction before submitting the request.