RIYADH, 4 May 2005 — The Ministry of Education has unveiled a SR15 billion plan under which 4,000 schools for boys and girls are to be built all over the Kingdom over the next 10 years. This is to extend equal educational opportunities to Saudi youth and raise the quality of the educational program.
Initially, the ministry has allocated SR800 million to buy 200 sites for the construction of schools in the major cities, according to Deputy Education Minister Abdullah Al-Fowzan.
The project, initiated last year, is to extend over 20 years. The ministry has purchased 36 sites for boys’ and girls’ schools in Riyadh at a cost of around SR140 million. This year, a committee started touring major cities to identify 200 sites for the project which will cost around SR800 million.
The ministry’s decision to own school buildings came after a report revealed that rented structures are 50 percent costlier than government-owned ones and have also outlived their utility.
The deputy minister emphasized that within the 10-year plan the cost of rented buildings will also come down. At the same time, it will encourage Saudi investors to acquire a stake in educational projects.
Al-Fowzan said the ministry has started contacting major Saudi companies to muster their support for the project. Three options for financing the project are under consideration: Disbursement from general budget; private sector funding; allocation of surplus revenue accruing from oil sales. Whichever is chosen, the construction firms will be paid over 10 years.
