Al-Faiz said the Ministry of Education is open for cooperation with the private sector to develop the level of education given to children. She added that the ministry has already opened some 330 schools in remote areas to make education available for children who live in villages.

“We do not only want education, we want to develop the personality of the new generation at all educational levels,” she said. Answering a comment criticizing the focus on learning English, she agreed that more attention should be given to Arabic, as it is the mother tongue.

Al-Faiz also supported a proposal offered by Nael Fayez, CEO of Inhaz Company, who said his company is willing to include more schools in its program which aims to introduce concepts of entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness among students. The program, he said, has worked with 72 public schools, 19 of which are boys’ schools.

Al-Faiz also supported calls for launching a program titled “Simsim Open the Door,” an educational program for children.

A group of Dar Al-Hekma College students also attended the session and presented a story project — entitled “Khalid and Sarah Discover Riyal” — that is aimed at improving the financial literacy of young children between the ages of six and eight.

The students — Hind Talal, Alaa Al-Mezyen, Noor Talal and Shaima Haider — surveyed 280 children and talked to their parents about financial awareness. According to their study, children are more aware about stock market crashes and that people are generally not in the habit of saving money from a young age.

The students said children need to be introduced to financial concepts in schools at all grades and that moderation in spending should be highlighted using Islamic teachings. The students also called for children to be given books and toys that encourage them to save money.

The dean of Dar Al-Hekma, Suhair Al-Qurashi, said that the students’ project will be handed to Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI), for reviewing. She added that they have contacted the minister of education to introduce the concept of financial literacy to children from grade one to three. The package they are calling for includes introducing children to concepts of entrepreneurship, finance, leadership and volunteering, and making them aware of their rights as Muslim children.