Teacher transfers via the Fares system begin: New Opportunities Program conditions
The Saudi Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday the official start of applications for the "Fursah" program, which facilitates the transfer of teachers for the current academic year. The Ministry has opened the application process for those wishing to transfer to submit their requests electronically through the "Faris" system. The application period extends until the 17th of Sha'ban, and the program adheres to a set of new regulations and requirements aimed at improving the efficiency of the education system.
Strict conditions to ensure school stability
In a move aimed at curbing arbitrary transfers that could disrupt the educational process, the application requirements now include a strict clause prohibiting frequent transfers. The Ministry stipulates that applicants must not have benefited from any previous job opportunity or transfer decision unless five full years have passed since they began that position. This decision aims to prevent repeated annual transfers, ensuring the stability of teaching staff in their schools for sufficient periods to allow them to deliver consistent and cumulative educational performance.
Special regulations for teachers on contract
Regarding teachers appointed under the "regulatory contracts" system, the Ministry has established specific geographical restrictions, prohibiting them from applying for any job opportunities outside the jurisdiction of the General Directorate of Education to which they currently belong. Thus, their transfers are limited to the sectors within the same directorate only. Meanwhile, other applicants are required to apply for positions in sectors different from their current work locations, reflecting the Ministry's aim to distribute talent geographically in a balanced manner.
Competency standards and exempted categories
The ministry emphasized in its announcement the criteria of competence and merit, requiring applicants to provide a performance evaluation for the previous two academic years. Any teacher still in their probationary period or lacking the specific qualifications for the offered position was excluded. The regulations also excluded six categories from the competition: those on study leave, those on teaching assignments, those on study or exceptional leave, those seconded to other entities, those who are blind, and those removed from teaching positions.
The context of digital transformation and educational stability
These measures come within the framework of the Ministry of Education's ongoing efforts to regulate human resources and enhance stability in schools, which aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to improve the efficiency of government performance. Through the "Faris" system, the Ministry ensures the governance of procedures and transparency in the selection process among applicants. Furthermore, the emphasis on the "five-year" requirement reflects an understanding of the importance of teachers' psychological and professional stability and its direct correlation with improving student learning outcomes. Educational studies have demonstrated that frequent teacher turnover negatively impacts academic achievement.
The ministry called on all male and female teachers to take advantage of the current application period and carefully review their data through the system to ensure that they meet the requirements before submitting applications, in order to ensure they are eligible to compete for the available opportunities.
