Saudi Gazette report

BURAIDAH — More than 2,000 women in Qasim region have obtained driving licenses in six months since the driving school was opened at the Qasim University, according to local daily Al-Watan on Monday.

The women completed their training and passed the tests before they were qualified to get the licenses.

Majed Al-Anzi, director of the school, said due to the large number of the women in the region to learn driving, the school has extended its working days to six instead of five.

He revealed that the school had spent as many as 40,500 hours on theoretical and 30,000 hours on practical training during the past period.

Al-Anzi said a special track was constructed for the practical training which can simultaneously accommodate as many as 30 cars.

"The school is teaching as many as 21 various driving skills," he added.

He said more than 70 Saudi women were trained and qualified to be instructors at the school within its policy for job nationalization.

Anzi said more than 86 percent of the women have passed the license test from the first time.