Within the conservative-liberal struggle, a 2003 incident (religious police prevented male firefighters
from rescuing girls in a school fire because they were without abayas and head coverings) shifted more
public opinion toward liberal views and provided the government the authority to reduce religious authorities'
power. In addition, Saudi opinion and policy has been to reduce the heavy dependence on and cost
of foreign workers. Thus, the Saudi government pays for foreign university education of its citizens. At the
same time, there has been growing recognition that much female talent is being underutilized.