RIYADH, 25 May 2008 — To keep pace with the latest technological developments, the Kingdom is keen on introducing computer assisted learning in all schools to help the management, teachers, students and parents interact with one another on matters relating to teaching and education, Education Minister Dr. Abdullah Saleh Al-Obeid said while inaugurating an e-learning forum here yesterday.
Addressing a record attendance of more than 700 teachers from across the Kingdom, the first-ever forum for computer assisted learning for teachers, the minister said that the Kingdom attaches great importance to e-learning, which is the need of the hour. He pointed out that through e-learning, users could save time and money, and minimize the efforts taken to learn new things in life.
The minister opened a show comprising 27 exhibitors who projected their products and services to enhance the quality in educational tools. The minister also launched a portal that enables decision-makers, policy-planners, educators, students and parents to interact with one another.
Deputy Minister of Education Prince Khaled Al-Mashari and Abdulaziz Al-Dubaiyan, general director of education for Riyadh, were also present at the three-day forum. More than 20 technical papers are being presented during the six workshops.
“Saudi Arabia is witnessing an economic boom and we need our students, who are the future generation, to get benefited from this economic development by receiving quality education in keeping with the technological advances in the field of e-learning,” Al-Dubaiyan said in his keynote address. He added that the Kingdom is interested in improving the quality of education by making its people learn the required skills, technology and the know-how to fit into various vocations of their choice.
Al-Dubaiyan said that the Ministry of Education has already started its e-learning programs in schools in Makkah and Riyadh and this would be extended to other regions according to a phased program that will be implemented during a stipulated period.
Saudi Arabia is set to spend $15 billion on education, primarily to fund existing and new universities in the Kingdom as part of its movement toward giving top priority to the development of higher education.
