JEDDAH, 11 September 2005 — Saudi Arabia will soon introduce evening courses in its universities as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday gave his approval to the proposal by the Higher Education Council.
The program, according to Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari, aims at creating opportunities for secondary school graduates who fail to gain admission to regular courses in universities and colleges.
Explaining the program, the minister said the universities and colleges would conduct some of the courses in the evening or after regular classes. The requirements for admission will be different from that of regular courses. Anqari said that evening courses would help students choose the specializations they wish. However, he indicated that students attending evening courses have to pay for their tuition.
King Abdullah approved a number of new colleges in various parts of the country, including a science college and an applied medical science college in Tabuk, another science college in Zulfi and a community college in Qasim. The king also extended the tenure of 72 faculty members in higher educational institutions. Al-Anqari announced the establishment of three new colleges in Baha and another in Jizan.
The king, meanwhile, received Mauritanian Finance Minister Abdullah Ouled Saidiya, who conveyed to him the greetings of the new Mauritanian military leader Ely Ould Mohamed Vall. “The king also asked the minister to convey his greetings to the military leader,” the Saudi Press Agency said.
King Abdullah telephoned Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to congratulate him on his re-election.
Al-Ouhali Named Royal Guards Chief: King Abdullah appointed Lt. Gen. Hamad ibn Muhammad Al-Ouhali as commander of royal guards from Sept. 19, SPA said. Al-Ouhali replaced Gen. Abdullah Al-Namlah who was retired. The king issued a decree reshuffling the consultative council for economic affairs at the Supreme Economic Council.
