Saudi gets first female education minister

Riyadh, Feb 15: For the first time in history Saudi Arabia will get a women education minister. Norah Al-Fayez has been appointed the deputy education minister for female education affairs in King Abdullah's Cabinet. This is the most senior designation ever given to a woman in the kingdom.

“It is very tough and I am happy to be given this post of deputy education minister. I hope to be a model and the future is good for other ladies to hold such post in coming years. I hope I can do well under as the minister of education, Al-Fayez said. She is currently an official at the Saudi institute for Public Administration.

The resuffle also saw major changes in the ministry. The central bank governor Hamad Saud al-Sayyari was replaced with his deputy, Muhammad al-Jasser. King Abdullah also appointed Abdul-Aziz Khoja, who was ambassador to Lebanon, as information minister, replacing Iyad bin Amin Madani.

Saleh bin Humaid, who was speaker of the advisory Shura Council, was appointed head of the Supreme Judiciary Court and was replaced by the outgoing justice minister, Abdullah al-Sheikh. The board of Muslim scholars was also expanded for the first time to include 21 members from all Sunni schools of thought.

The Saudi king also sacked two powerful religious officials. This is the first major reshuffle to takeplace since King Abdullah took the throne in Aug 2005, following the death of King Fahd.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)