General Presidency of Girls' Education in Saudi arabia

The General Presidency of Girls' Education, organized in 1960, is the educational counterpart to the Ministry of Education, but for women. Elementary education for girls was started in 1961, and by 1963 girls' education was available at both the intermediate and secondary levels. The General Presidency of Girls' Education is divided into the Directorate General for General Education for elementary, intermediate, and secondary education and the Deputy General of Girls' Colleges which oversees junior college, undergraduate and postgraduate levels and specialized training institutes and technical schools in the fields of nursing, teacher training, tailoring, and adult education.

King Fahd Security College for security training

The Ministry of Higher Education, established in 1975, provides support for Saudi Arabia's seven universities and 78 colleges. It coordinates, supervises, and follows-up postsecondary programs with national development programs in a variety of fields. It reviews requests for study abroad and oversees 27 educational and cultural missions in other countries. The Minister of Higher Education heads the University Council for each university. The sole exception is the Islamic University headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, The King. Educational ministries exist separately for the military. They include the King Khalid Military College for National Guard training, the King Fahd Security College for security training, Staff Military Academy, three military academies, and four civil aviation junior colleges.

Saudi Arabia's seven universities and 78 colleges

The Ministry of Higher Education, established in 1975, provides support for Saudi Arabia's seven universities and 78 colleges. It coordinates, supervises, and follows-up postsecondary programs with national development programs in a variety of fields. It reviews requests for study abroad and oversees 27 educational and cultural missions in other countries. The Minister of Higher Education heads the University Council for each university. The sole exception is the Islamic University headed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, The King. Educational ministries exist separately for the military. They include the King Khalid Military College for National Guard training, the King Fahd Security College for security training, Staff Military Academy, three military academies, and four civil aviation junior colleges.

General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVT)

The General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVT) was created in 1980, to accommodate the kingdom's increasing needs for specialized technical training. The educational department is divided into the Directorate General for Technical Education for industrial, commercial, and agricultural education and the Directorate General for Vocational Training for supervised vocational and on-the-job training programs, curricula development, program evaluation, trainee affairs, instructor training, and audio-visual aids. There are three levels of vocational training: prevocational training centers, vocational and commercial secondary schools and higher (postsecondary) technical institutes.

Certificate of Technical Nursing in Saudi arabia

Three intermediate nursing schools offer women a three-year program of study for a Certificate of Technical Nursing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs administers the Institute of Diplomatic Studies (1979) whose responsibility is to raise the work standards for members of the Foreign Ministry; to conduct research and studies on international, Arab, and Islamic issues; and to organize conferences and seminars on diplomatic, political, and international affairs.

educational opportunities for students in Saudi arabia

There are schools within the kingdom for special education, the blind, the deaf, the mentally retarded, and those needing physical therapy and training. Training for special education teachers is offered at King Saud University in the College of Education and at the College of Applied Medicine for the speech and hearing impaired. Additional special education teacher training needs are satisfied by study abroad at accredited institutions of higher learning. The Ministry of Education and the General Presidency of Girls' Education offer adult education programs that focus on the mastery reading, writing, and elementary arithmetic skills. Graduates receive a Literacy Certificate. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers special training programs through the Institute of Public Administration in the fields of banking, electronic data processing, hospital administration, library science, personnel studies, secretary studies, and store administration. Each branch of the military has it own training academy or college—the King Abdulaziz Military Academy in Riyadh (Army), King Fahd Naval College in Dammam, the King Faisal Air Force Academy in Riyadh, and the King Khalid Military Academy for the National Guard. Each military academy awards a bachelor of military Science degree. Additional specialized institutes include health care institutes and nursing schools to train nursing, x-ray, and laboratory technicians, health supervisors, surgical operations assistants, assistant pharmacists, assistant statisticians, and nutritional assistants.

Expanding and modernizing educational resources in Saudi arabia

In 1952, the United Nations reported that Saudi Arabia had 306 elementary schools, but illiteracy was between 92 and 95 percent. To combat such dire statistics, a Ministry of Education was established in 1953 with Prince (later King) Fahd as the first minister of education entrusted with the task of expanding and modernizing educational resources. The kingdom was divided into school districts, each governed by a superintendent assisted by a technical staff. Within the Ministry of Education, a special department, Popular Culture, was created to combat adult illiteracy. In 1958, the Saudi kingdom adopted a uniform educational policy in cooperation with other Arab states that provided for a six-year compulsory elementary education, a three-year optional intermediate education, and a three-year optional secondary education for men only. In 1961, education for women was mandated, with the responsibility given to the newly created General Directorate of Girls Education. There was considerable resistance to female education within the kingdom, but it abated and during its first decade, 16 primary schools for girls were built with 148 staff members educating 5,200 females.

Saudi Arabia's first educational system was modeled on Egypt's system

Saudi Arabia's first monarch, King Ibn Saud, regarded education as a means to foster national unity and to enlighten the Saudi people. In 1925, public education did not exist. There were only four private elementary schools in the entire country. Therefore, a centralized educational policy was entrusted to the newly established Directorate of Education. Although compulsory education was mandated for a six-year elementary education followed by a five-year secondary cycle, enforcement was difficult without an adequate number of schools. Saudi Arabia's first educational system was modeled on Egypt's system, which, in turn, was heavily influenced by the French educational model. Saudi Arabia's educational system was designed to observe the teachings of Islam, disseminate knowledge, and construct schools.

Saudi Arabia's first technical secondary school

The 1930s witnessed many changes in education: the first Religious Sciences School (1933); the issuance of rules for private schools (1934); and the first secondary school, Tahdeer Al-Baathat School, to prepare graduates for a university education (1935). In 1938, the General Directorate of Education was given full control over all education except for the military. Saudi Arabia's first technical secondary school and school of higher learning, the College of Sharia (now, Umm Al Qura University), were founded in 1949. During the decade of the 1950s, three more colleges were granted charters, the Teachers' College (1952), the College of Sharia in Riyadh (1953), and the College of Arabic Language in Riyadh (1954).

Memorization and recitation of the Koran in Saudi Arabia

There are some university campuses for women only. Traditional education in Saudi Arabia includes the memorization and recitation of the Koran. Saudi Arabia offer free education also to study abroad. In the country boys and girls do not attend school together. For boys the levels of education include primary, intermediate, secondary and university. After the first year of secondary education, boys can choose between scientific studies or literary studies. There are also vocational schools that train in agriculture, technical and business studies. More advance studies take place at the universities. The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia was started in 1956.

The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia

The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia was started in 1956. Prior to this year the could only be taught at home by private tutors. Today more than half of almost 200.000 students in Saudi universities are women. Because they are not allowed to share classrooms with men, they hear the lectures by television. There are some university campuses for women only. Traditional education in Saudi Arabia includes the memorization and recitation of the Koran. Saudi Arabia offer free education also to study abroad. In the country boys and girls do not attend school together. For boys the levels of education include primary, intermediate, secondary and university. After the first year of secondary education, boys can choose between scientific studies or literary studies. There are also vocational schools that train in agriculture, technical and business studies. More advance studies take place at the universities. The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia was started in 1956.

Traditional education in Saudi Arabia

Prior to this year the could only be taught at home by private tutors. Today more than half of almost 200.000 students in Saudi universities are women. Because they are not allowed to share classrooms with men, they hear the lectures by television. There are some university campuses for women only. Traditional education in Saudi Arabia includes the memorization and recitation of the Koran. Saudi Arabia offer free education also to study abroad. In the country boys and girls do not attend school together. For boys the levels of education include primary, intermediate, secondary and university. After the first year of secondary education, boys can choose between scientific studies or literary studies. There are also vocational schools that train in agriculture, technical and business studies. More advance studies take place at the universities. The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia was started in 1956.

The Education System in Saudi Arabia

Traditional education in Saudi Arabia includes the memorization and recitation of the Koran. Saudi Arabia offer free education also to study abroad. In the country boys and girls do not attend school together. For boys the levels of education include primary, intermediate, secondary and university. After the first year of secondary education, boys can choose between scientific studies or literary studies. There are also vocational schools that train in agriculture, technical and business studies. More advance studies take place at the universities.
The first school for girls in Saudi Arabia was started in 1956. Prior to this year the could only be taught at home by private tutors. Today more than half of almost 200.000 students in Saudi universities are women. Because they are not allowed to share classrooms with men, they hear the lectures by television. There are some university campuses for women only.

Seven major aspects of higher education in Saudi arab

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.

Scientific and technological development in Saudi arab

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.

King Abdullah Project for the Development of Public Education

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.

Education System Undergoing Major Overhaul in Saudi arabia

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.