Teaching jobs prime attraction for many Saudis

(MENAFN- Arab News) A test to measure vocational aptitude conducted by the National Center for Assessment in Higher Education (NCAHE) has revealed that 27 percent of Saudis interviewed or 6436 individuals prefer jobs in education media and entertainment.

The NCAHE stated that 54 percent of the people who took the test were from Riyadh and Makkah. Students made up 51 percent of the sample which was revealed to the public on Tuesday. The Ministry of Higher Education oversees the work of the NCAHE.

Thirteen percent of them said that they wanted to be politicians businesspeople lawyers and economists.

The results come as the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) revealed that most of the 1.2 million women graduates registered under its Hafiz unemployment fund program want jobs in education.

Ibrahim Al-Moaiqil director of Hadaf said recently that it is not possible for the government to employ so many people in the sector. He said this would saturate the education field.

He said social pressure and confusion over career choices have resulted in too many Saudi women getting university degrees in education and seeking employment in the field particularly at government schools.

Al-Moaiqil said the NCAHE would be conducting more interviews and surveys to determine the vocational abilities of young people. He said the focus is on high school students but everyone is welcome to participate.