The Ministry of Education has implemented 900 school building projects as part of its strategy to scale down on the number of rented buildings.
“We have already received 650 buildings and within two months we’ll receive 250 more buildings from contractors,” said Dr. Rashid Al-Ghayad, Secretary-General of the Education Department at the Ministry.
He said the new buildings would help the Ministry get rid of about 1,000 rented school buildings in various parts of the country.
In a previous statement, Fahd Al-Hammad, supervisor of the agency for school buildings, said the Ministry was making intensive efforts to complete 871 new school buildings.
This is in addition to 2,340 school projects under construction at a total cost of SR 21 billion, said Al-Hammad. “The new projects are expected to increase the share of school buildings owned by the government to 85 percent,” he added.
Al-Ghayad said the Ministry and Education Departments in various regions have completed preparations for the new academic year. “We will admit 300,000 students in Class 1 of primary schools. We’ll also appoint and confirm the jobs of 130,000 teachers,” he added.
Al-Ghayad also confirmed that textbooks have arrived in the warehouses of education departments. “We have distributed books amongst most schools. Only 10 percent of schools remain and they will get books within this week,” he added.
In his statement, Al-Hammad said the ministry was also completing procedures for the appointment of 5,307 new teachers during the 2012-2013 academic year.
“We have instructed education departments across the country to complete procedures for the appointment of new teachers,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
Saudi Arabia gives top priority to education and training of its citizens and spends billions of riyals for the purpose every year. The Kingdom’s 2011 budget allocated 46 percent of total spending to education and training, health and social development and infrastructure, with 25.9 percent of the entire budget designated for education and training alone.
During 2011, the government appropriated $40 billion (SR150 billion) to education and training.
Investment in human capital has become a top priority for the government, as spending on education has more than tripled since 2000.
In related developments, parents have complained about delays in carrying out maintenance of school buildings in various parts of the country. “Maintenance works are still going on at a school nearby my house and I don’t know whether students will be able to study there or if they have any alternative arrangements to run classes,” said Abdullatif Al-Hassan, a parent in the Eastern Province.
Jalal Al-Ismail urged school authorities to complete maintenance works way ahead of the reopening date. “Maintenance works at the time of school opening are not acceptable as it may well cause health problems to students,” said Abu Abdul Aziz, a parent.
900 new school buildings to help ministry get rid of rented places
