I have met with Saudi officials in London and the schools and clubs that Saudis attend, and before I proceed with what I want to say I should mention that the efforts that have been made to establish and maintain these facilities are worthy of praise and admiration.
Abdullah Al-Nasser, the Saudi cultural attaché in London, is an experienced official with a strong background in education that has included work in the United States, Western Europe and Africa. All postgraduate students in the UK have approved of the attaché’s competence and dedication.
I spent a couple of days with Saudi students in London, listening to their dreams and worries. We took a tour of Saudi schools in the UK — there are 27 — which teach an accredited curriculum that aims, among other things, at preserving proficiency in Arabic and the characteristics of the Saudi culture.
The Saudi school in Gilford, for example, has over 2,000 students, most of whom are Saudi. These schools offer night classes that supplement their local education in the English language. In addition to the schools there are 28 assorted clubs in which Saudis hold membership.
It’s not an easy job to establish and run these schools in the UK according to Saudi standards of education, but I have to say that I felt proud visiting and observing these schools.
Teachers who work at these schools are highly qualified, typically holding post-graduate degrees. It has been an honor to be able to witness such dedication and commitment.
