JEDDAH, 10 August 2007 — The same scene repeats each year at different universities across the Kingdom. High school graduates can be seen clustering at university entrances wanting and waiting to be enrolled.
For a number of years enrollment has become difficult as universities make stringent demands from potential students. Graduates with less than 95 percent pass marks are frequently turned away. Some high school graduates that have been turned away from universities end up registering at private universities. However, there are many others who cannot afford the high fees and remain without a further education, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.
Although the higher authorities have ordered universities to accept all high school graduates, many Saudi universities do not accept students. The King Saud University in Riyadh does not accept students that have scored less than 92 percent. At King Abdul Aziz University, students with less than 95 percent pass marks are also frequently turned away. Such students end up enrolling in external programs paying SR6,000 a year, or registering in preparatory programs costing up to SR16,000. Taif University offers a preparatory program in art for SR7,000 and a preparatory science program for SR8,000.
The situation is different in other Arab countries. Public universities in Egypt accept students with marks as low as 71 percent and 68 percent; this is in spite of the fact that the population of Egypt is higher than that of the Kingdom.
Many high school graduates have expressed their dissatisfaction at the situation and call on the Kingdom’s authorities to find solutions to their predicament.
Muhammad Al-Kudaidi, a high school graduate, said that many high school students have high expectations and dream of joining different fields. He added that they are then left disappointed when their high school grades are lower than the threshold.
“Fees for the preparatory year are high. What is rather disappointing is that when we complete the year, the university will not accept us for free. They demand further fees claiming they don’t have places. If they can accept us with fees that means they have places so why don’t they take us on for free?” said Al-Kudaidi.
Issa, another high school graduate, said that when he wanted to join King Abdul Aziz University he was made to join the preparatory year. “Although I scored 84 percent, they wanted me to pay fees for the preparatory year, which I can’t afford because of my family’s poor financial status,” he said.
“I’m afraid Umm Al-Qura University will ask me to join the preparatory year. If they did I won’t go for it simply because I can’t afford the fees,” said Sultan, another high school graduate. Sultan is in a dilemma; he does not know what to do if he fails to enroll at university. He urged the authorities to look into the issue and make the dreams of people like him come true.
“I tried my very best to get a percentage that would help me enroll onto my dream course. However, because I haven’t got the required percentage, I’m feeling depressed. What shall I do? Just stay at home?” said Muhammad Ali, a high school graduate.
Marwan Daftardar, a Saudi father, expressed sadness at the complicated enrollment rules set by public universities. “Although we read about positive plans to develop the educational system, universities still do not accept more than 50 percent of high school graduates. Where do the rest go? They either stay uneducated or opt for private colleges and institutions that charge high fees and which have not been authorized yet,” Daftardar said.
Iman Hamzawi, a mother of a medical science student, said: “Due to my husband’s work we had to move from Hail to Madinah. It was all good except my daughter was studying medicine at Hail University and she had passed her preparatory year. She was not accepted at Taiba University in Madinah or at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.” Hamzawi added that her daughter’s problems could easily be solved if her family had a wasta.
Ahmad Al-Zahrani said that he could not register at Baha University, although he had scored 92 percent. “For us there are only two choices. Either go abroad or remain unemployed. People with wastas get into university, whereas we’re left in a lumber.”
With tears in her eyes, Iman Najrani, a high school graduate, told Al-Madinah, “I went with my friends to university. We were happy as we had graduated and would be enrolling at university. However, we felt let down when the university did not accept us. We did not expect to be rejected.”
She also wandered if the university would solve her problem. “I think our certificates are just going to end up being wall decorations,” she said, adding that the authorities need to find a quick solution to the problem.
