RIYADH, 1 February — Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, will open a major computer conference here on Sunday. Experts from the United States, Britain, Australia and Malaysia will address the event to explain their countries' experiences in the fast-growing computer science.
Dr. Khaled Al-Awad, chairman of the organizing committee, said 43 research papers would be discussed at various sessions of the four-day conference titled "Computer and Education." The event is organized by the Education Ministry in cooperation with the Saudi Computer Society.
"The conference is held as part of the government's efforts to enhance the use of computers for educational purposes," Awad told a press conference. He said the ministry wanted the conference to come out with practical solutions instead of mere academic proposals in its bid to promote computer education in government schools.
Crown Prince Abdullah has initiated a major project, named Watani, last year to promote computer education in Saudi schools. He took the initiative considering the significance of computers in contemporary life. Awad commended the Watani project as well as the crown prince's effort to develop capabilities of talented students.
"The state intends that education should be the gateway for cultural change in society," he said, adding that the conference would focus on the latest developments in computer and information technologies and their varied applications. "The use of modern technology in our daily life is the talk of the hour," he said, adding that the use of computers in Saudi households would increase soon.
Asked about the progress of the Watani project, Awad said within five years computers would become the principal teaching tool of Saudi teachers. "The Education Ministry has a lot of ambitions with regard to promoting education through computers," he added.
Awad disclosed that Kingdom Holding Company is the official sponsor of the conference. He commended the support of Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, chairman of the company, to the event that will include a computer exhibition. A number of open training programs will be held before the conference. Moreover, a computer caravan and a computer competition will be organized to enhance public awareness, especially among students, on computers.
Meanwhile, Prince Abdullah received Abdul Khaleq Al-Zahrani, a Saudi, and Ahmad Al-Ahmad, an Egyptian, who underwent liver transplant operations at King Fahd National Guard Hospital in Riyadh. The operations, considered firsts in the Middle East, were conducted as per the prince's directives. Parts of liver donated by their living relatives were used in the operation.
In another development, Prince Abdullah conferred on Rtd. Gen. Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Amr, former commander of the military wing of the National Guard, the King Faisal Medal of the Excellent Order in appreciation of his great services to the National Guard.
