Financing a 'qualitative shift'? Saudi to spend additional $21 billion on overhaul of educational system

Saudi Arabia will spend an additional SR80 billion ($21.3 billion) to overhaul the kingdom’s education system under a five-year plan, a report said.

The plan, approved by King Abdullah, includes building of 1,500 nursery schools, training of about 25,000 teachers, and establishing educational centres and other related projects, the Arab News report said quoting Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.

He said the SR80 billion was an additional allocation to the country's education budget.

King Abdullah has also approved an executive plan for a public education development project named after him.

Prince Khaled said the King Abdullah project would bring about qualitative improvement in education, to benefit present and future generations.

The executive plan covers the provision of education through the private sector, linking schools with a broadband Internet system, smart classrooms, computer systems for e-education needs, setting up specialized schools, support for clubs, construction of new buildings, renovation and maintenance of existing schools, and enhancing safety systems, the report said.

“The king has also agreed to set up an endowment to support public education,” the prince said. This would enable the ministry to have an independent financial source to cover additional expenses, thus easing pressure on the national budget, he said.