المملكة: Urgent: Early retirement for teachers…escaping from the blackboard? Or free up a seat for the “Vision Generation”?

Indicators of early retirement in the educational sector have increased, raising questions about the future of the educational field, in light of specialists’ warnings about the repercussions of losing Accumulated educational experiences, while others assert that the entry of a new generation of teachers represents an opportunity to modernize educational tools and keep pace with digital transformation.
Among those who see the phenomenon as an indicator of job burnout and professional pressures, and those who consider it a step to reshape the educational environment in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, opinions differ on how to achieve a balance between preserving educational competencies and enabling young teachers to lead the next stage.

“Al-Youm” shed light through an expanded report with Specialists on the issue of early retirement in The educational sector, and the concerns it raises about the loss of educational expertise and its impact on the quality of education, in exchange for demands to benefit from young energies capable of leading the digital transformation and developing the educational environment in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Renewing energy within schools

First of all, educational policy researcher Ahmed Al-Baeiji explained that early retirement in the educational sector cannot be viewed as a withdrawal from the field as much as it represents a “repositioning” strategy that contributes to the renewal of blood within schools, Opening the way for new university graduates to engage in the educational process.

He pointed out that the entry of young teachers into the field injects renewed energy capable of employing modern technology and artificial intelligence within the classroom environment, indicating that the new teacher has become closer to the language of The digital generation is more capable of providing interactive content that is consistent with the aspirations of the “Alpha Generation.”

Al-Baiji stressed that the contemporary teacher is no longer just a transmitter of information, but has become a digital citizen who possesses the tools of technical transformation, citing a recent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development “OECD 2024” that indicated that integrating new teachers enhances the flexibility of educational institutions in adopting modern curricula and technical skills.

In a message of loyalty to retired teachers, Al-Baiji said They were the cornerstone of building generations, adding that the baton is being passed today to a new generation that will continue the education process with the engine of technology and the fuel of innovation.

Educational Sector Pressures

For his part, teacher Mujtaba Al Fardan, who has about 11 years of experience between public and private schools, saw that the high number of retirees and teachers leaving the profession reflects the extent of the professional pressures experienced by workers in the educational sector.

He explained that the large administrative burdens, weak incentives, and professional exhaustion, in addition to the limited opportunities for professional development and the decline in societal appreciation, are among the most prominent reasons that push teachers to early retirement or leave the profession.

Al Fardan pointed out that the exit of educational competencies negatively reflects on the quality of education, as a result of the loss of accumulated experience that represents an element of stability for the educational process, stressing that this experience could have been benefited from through training programs, educational guidance, and the provision of consultations. For new teachers.

On the other hand, he stressed that pumping new blood into schools contributes to introducing modern methods, expanding the use of technology, and raising the level of enthusiasm and interaction within the educational environment. However, he stressed that the current employment numbers are not commensurate with the size of retirees, pointing out that some schools have come to rely on assigning study materials to teachers outside their specializations as a result of the shortage of cadres. The early rate of more than 46% is considered an “alarm bell” that goes beyond the concept of blood renewal to reveal a worsening job burnout crisis within the educational field.

He said that teachers leaving the profession are not in search of comfort or leisure, but rather a direct result of a work environment that exhausted the teacher between administrative burdens and technical pressures that took him away from his true educational role.

Al-Shuraimi added that the problem lies in the loss of the “institutional memory” of the educational sector, explaining that the Saudi teacher retires at an average age of about 53 years, that is, about ten years before global rates, which constitutes – according to his description – educational waste. Economically, it is significant.

He stressed that the solution does not lie in tightening control tools, but rather in improving the educational environment and transforming schools into environments that attract and stimulate creativity, warning that relying on the enthusiasm of young people alone will not be enough to compensate for the loss of experience.

Balance between those with experience and young competencies

For her part, educational expert Abeer Khoj explained that early retirement for teachers is no longer just an individual decision, but has turned into an issue. Multi-dimensional educational and social, due to the direct impact it has on the stability of schools and the quality of educational outcomes.

She indicated that the loss of educational expertise may create a gap within the field, but at the same time it gives an opportunity for a new generation of teachers to present modern ideas and methods that are compatible with technical development and the changing needs of students.

Khoj stressed that the success of the educational system depends on its ability to achieve a balance between preserving the expertise of teachers and supporting young competencies, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in developing education and raising its efficiency.

The development of education imposes the use of technology. New

In the same context, the researcher in artificial intelligence and educational technologies, Dr. Radhi Al-Zwaid, pointed out that young teachers have become a pivotal element in the educational transformation industry, by employing modern technologies and innovation within the classroom environment.

He explained that an educational meeting that brought together a number of new teachers demonstrated the extent of the technical awareness and professional passion of this group, and their ability to use digital applications and artificial intelligence to enhance thinking and creativity among students.

Al-Zuwaid stressed that the development of education is no longer based on transferring traditional knowledge, but rather on building smart and stimulating educational environments that focus on the student and develop his intellectual and cognitive skills, pointing out that young teachers are more capable of designing digital content, producing interactive activities and activating smart educational platforms within grades.

He added that the Ministry of Education pays great attention to empowering young national competencies through training and development programs aimed at raising the quality of educational performance and enhancing the technical and professional skills of teachers, which reflects positively on the level of academic achievement.

Al-Zuwaid concluded his speech by stressing the importance of investing in young teachers, supporting innovative educational initiatives, and promoting a culture of creativity within schools, in order to build a more advanced and sustainable educational future.

The flexibility of the new generation with artificial intelligence tools

with regard to Educational technology researcher, Professor Samira Hussein Al-Thaqafi, confirmed that the file of early retirement for teachers has become one of the most controversial educational files in light of the rapid digital transformations that schools are witnessing today. Al-Thaqafi raised a fundamental question about whether this trend represents a gain in pumping young blood, or whether it represents a silent loss of accumulated experience.

Al-Thaqafi indicated that recent years have witnessed a noticeable increase in teachers’ tendency toward early retirement, driven by several factors, most notably professional pressures, job burnout, and the acceleration of technical changes that have exceeded the ability of some to keep up. In this context, she cited a study conducted in the holy city of Mecca, which warned that the loss of experienced teachers may have a negative impact on professional stability within the school environment.

In contrast, the researcher explained that supporters of job replacement see the entry of young competencies as a golden opportunity for educational institutions; Due to this generation’s high flexibility in dealing with artificial intelligence and e-learning tools. Al-Thaqafi pointed to what was confirmed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that technical skills have become one of the most important components of institutional success in the twenty-first century.

However, Al-Thaqafi did not ignore the warning aspect, as she explained that the expansion of early retirement may turn into something similar to a “bleed of experience.” She emphasized that the expert teacher not only transmits academic knowledge, but also possesses “tacit knowledge” and field experiences in dealing with classroom situations and educational crises, which are skills that can only be acquired through long years of work.

The researcher also drew attention to academic theses that warned of the absence of clear plans for knowledge transfer, which may lead to a professional gap between generations and affect the quality of educational performance and building school culture.

Sustainable professional succession

In conclusion, researcher Samira Al-Thaqafi called for To adopt the “sustainable career succession” model and suggested that this model be based on integration, not exclusion. So that the young teacher contributes with his technical flexibility, while the experienced teacher offers his professional wisdom and ability to contain.

Al-Thaqafi confirmed that the answer closest to reality is that education does not advance youth alone nor through experience alone, but rather by building a bridge linking the enthusiasm for innovation and the wisdom of sustainability to ensure a balanced educational future.

Applying for early retirement

The Ministry of Education, through the “Fares” system, launched a window for receiving requests for an exception to “early retirement for study” for its employees who They spent 20 years.

The Ministry clarified that applying for retirement includes occupants of administrative and educational positions, employees, engineers, and workers on wages.
It indicated that the official closure of the system to applicants for this service will be on the twenty-first of this month.

It revealed that the time plan includes an immediate review and audit of files, in preparation for submitting applications finally on June 7, 2026. It indicated that the effective date of retirement, for the approved Their applications will be submitted by the end of the current academic year 1447 AH.

The Ministry confirmed that simply submitting the application electronically does not constitute final acceptance, stressing that all files are subject to the controls and standards approved in this regard.

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