RIYADH, 24 June — The Shoura Council has urged the Higher Education Council to prepare a long-term plan for university education for at least 25 years, defining its goals, quality, requirements and financial sources.
The 120-member Shoura also stressed the need for quick implementation of the resolutions passed by the Higher Ministerial Council to solve admission problems at universities and other higher education institutions.
Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has disclosed government plans to establish new technical, medical and community colleges within the next four years.
The Shoura also called for opening new specializations for girls at universities in tune with the nature of women and their capabilities and considering job opportunities.
“The council emphasized proposals which call for absorbing secondary school graduates, who failed to receive university admission, in military, civilian and private sectors,” said Dr. Hamoud Al-Badr, secretary-general of the organization.
The council wanted to create more jobs for lecturers and assistant lecturers at universities every year in order to upgrade their faculties. It also sought a review of the salaries and benefits of university teaching staff.
“The Shoura took these decisions in the light of a report prepared by a panel headed by Bakry Shatta, vice president of the Shoura,” Al-Badr said. The panel was set up to discuss problems of university admission.
The council will present its proposals on university admission to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd for taking appropriate action.
Experts say that the education sector will need a budget allocation of SR80-90 billion by the year 2020, when the Kingdom’s population is expected to reach 30 million and the number of students more than eight million.
At present there are 4.8 million students enrolled at the Kingdom’s schools, colleges and universities.
The weekly meeting of the Shoura, chaired by its President Dr. Saleh ibn Humaid, also discussed a draft law on copyright protection. The draft law, with 27 articles, will be put to vote in the next session, Al-Badr said.
