Cabinet Resolutions Reflect Government Support to Education Process: Rector
H. M. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and H.R.H. , Crown Prince Sultan ibn Abdulaziz Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, were praised by H.E. Professor Dr. Suliman A. Aba Al-Khail, the rector of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University for their support to higher education.
In statements after the issuance of the cabinet resolutions upgrading the positions of the faculty members at Saudi universities on September 1st, 2008, Al-Khail said, ”The grant by H.M. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for the faculty members at Saudi universities is one of the generosity characteristics of the wise state. It has always been upgrading the education process and contributing to the overall rise nationwide. It has also been supporting those in charge of education process.”
The cabinet resolution approved of a number of recommendations given by the Supreme Economic Council last month to correct the positions of the Saudi faculty members in universities. They include allowances of end-of-service, dearness, emerging universities, excellence, university teaching, and leadership. “This proves the pure intention to develop the academic process, and helps produce generations qualified to serve Islam, the king, and the homeland thoroughly ” said Aba Al-Khail.
On the allowances, Aba Al-Khail said it would be of great advantage for faculty members particularly those spending more than 20 years. The allowances would help stop the phenomenon of university professors leaving campus, added he. The faculty members will have 10 per cent allowance of excellence, 20 per cent for those having a regional award, 30 per cent for those winning international awards; 40 per cent for having patents, between 20 – 40 per cent for dearness allowance; and between 20 – 40 per cent for those working for emerging universities.
The allowances will be fruitful in upgrading the efficiency of the members of staff, and will enrich the academic process, added Aba Al-Khail. This helps develop this blessed country based upon the Glorious Quran and The Sunna, noted he. It shall provide psychological stability for them and their families, remarked he. “The increase comprises deans, vice-deans, department chairs out of appreciating their strenuous efforts and this helps the subordinates assume leadership posts,” he said.
“The cabinet resolutions will be a momentum to exert more efforts to achieve the accomplishments of the university under the aspirations of the leadership,” he concluded.
“Another SR5 billion has been allocated to the Higher Education Ministry for speeding up the construction process of housing units for the faculty members in campus,” added he. “This helps further the psychological and social stability of faculty members which reflects positively on their academic performance”, noted he.
Concluding the statements, Aba al-Khail said, “These resolutions will help Imam University and other Saudi universities achieve the aspirations for the wise leadership.”