Education System Undergoing Major Overhaul
P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

JEDDAH, 17 April 2007 � Saudi Arabia has begun a major overhaul of its education system, pumping SR11.8 billion ($3.1 billion) into the project, to ensure overall development of its students by increasing their knowledge as well as their physical, professional, psychological and intellectual capabilities.

The King Abdullah Project for the Development of Public Education, which was approved by the Cabinet in February, has allocated SR4.2 billion to improve the educational environment and SR3.58 billion for extra-curricular activities.

The training and development of teachers is another thrust of the project and for this purpose SR2.94 billion has been set aside. A curriculum development program will receive SR980 million. Academics and other experts are working on the project�s executive plan, which will be ready shortly.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah instructed Education Ministry officials and academics during a meeting last year to shoulder the responsibility of teaching and training present and future generations with seriousness.

In a related development, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari disclosed plans to establish more women�s universities which will be managed by women. King Abdullah will launch the first such university in Riyadh today. Princess Al-Jowhara has been appointed president of the Riyadh university. �All girls colleges in different regions will be brought under separate universities,� Anqari said.

Speaking about the King Abdullah education project, Education Minister Abdullah Al-Obaid said it would help the Kingdom keep pace with scientific and technological development and meet the requirements of the Education Document presented by the king to the GCC summit as well as the 8th Five-Year Development Plan. �It will also meet the hopes and aspirations of Saudi citizens,� Al-Obaid said. �We�ll continue our efforts for the development of education, making use of the successful experiments of countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, China, New Zealand, Finland, France, Ireland, Britain, Canada and the US,� he added.

The project also aims at deepening Islamic values, morals and allegiance to family, society and nation, and appreciating and preserving national achievements. �There are more than 15 mechanisms to implement the project,� he said.

Teachers will be provided with modern information technology tools. �They will also be given intensive training to help them become familiar with modern developments and changes,� he added.

The ministry will carry out seven training programs for more than 400,000 teachers, focusing on their specialization, school management, educational supervision, computer science, self-development and improvement of skills. �The atmosphere in classrooms will be improved by providing modern technological facilities such as interactive boards, displaying devices, communication network and Internet services,� Al-Obaid said.

The project also aims at expanding out-of-class activities in order to develop better students by improving their cultural and health standards, creating a spirit of competition in making innovations and encouraging them to participate in various social activities. �We have identified more than 10 programs in this category, including scientific, cultural, social and sports activities and memorization of the Qur�an and Hadith,� he said.

Saudi academics and officials are in the process of setting out a 25-year strategy to develop the country�s higher education system in tune with the country�s development and job market requirements. �We have completed studies on seven major aspects of higher education with the support of research groups from different Saudi universities,� said Muhammad Al-Ouhali, director of the project.

Source: ArabNews.com