Fourteen international schools have been given top-class evaluation, allowing Saudi female students to enroll in their systems. According to a report by Al-Eqtisadiyah newspaper, Al-Jawhara Al-Arifi, director of National and Foreign education for girls, said that the international schools underwent an assessment process for quality rating.
“There are more than 14 international schools that have been approved to admit Saudi students,” says Maha Bawazir, education consultant and former member of the Ministry of Education. “I cannot give an exact number but I think there are around 21 schools that have already been given this approval.”
Bawazir says that for international schools to be approved to admit Saudi students, they need to fulfill requirements of the Ministry of Education. “These requirements will be used to classify the best schools in the Kingdom in terms of education and accreditation. International schools must have an accreditation and needs to have Islam and the Arabic language in their curriculum.”
“That is why not all international schools in the Kingdom have been given this approval to admit Saudi students,” says Bawazir. “Only good schools can apply for endorsement.”
Bawazir says that it is a step forward and good for Saudi female students because the government is ensuring that the school follow both international standards and Islamic standards.
“In my opinion, the reason behind this approval is because many Saudi parents prefer to enroll their children at international schools,” says Farida Farsi, head of a panel for private and international girls’ schools at the JCCI. “The ministry would have found these 14 schools to be excellent and compliant with the Arabic language and religion in the curriculum.”
The report also stated that Princess Huda Ayyaf, assistant director-general for Education in the Riyadh region for Educational Affairs for girls, has said that international schools in the Kingdom that are owned by Saudi investors can begin to enroll Saudi girl students in their system.
14 more foreign schools allowed to take Saudi female students
