JEDDAH, 3 September 2005 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has allocated SR12.5 billion from this year’s budget surplus for educational and training projects, including SR4 billion for the construction of new college and university buildings.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rashid, rector of King Khaled University in Abha, said the royal gesture reflected the government’s efforts to improve the country’s educational standard and develop institutions of higher learning.
The amount is part of SR78 billion allocated by the king from the 2005 budget surplus for welfare and development projects. Education and training received the lion’s share of the massive allocation.
Saudi Arabia sets aside about 20 percent of the national budget for education and manpower training. There are now 12 government universities and three more are under construction in Jizan, Hail and Al-Jouf.
Studies are under way to transform 102 existing women’s colleges into women’s universities. King Abdullah has already instructed authorities to merge the six women’s colleges in Riyadh into a single university.
According to Al-Rashid, King Khaled University has made tremendous progress since it was established in 1998. The number of its colleges has increased from four to 18; the number of students on its roll from 1,521 in 1999 to 7,290 this year; and higher education programs from zero to 15, he pointed out.
He said the new allocation of SR4 billion would further strengthen the Kingdom’s universities, helping them to play a significant role in the country’s overall development.
While announcing a 15 percent raise for public servants last month, King Abdullah said the government has allocated SR4 billion for school buildings and SR2.5 billion for technical and vocational education and training projects.
The government also encourages the private sector to open colleges and universities. According to Dr. Mohamed Al-Saleh, secretary-general of the Higher Education Council, the Higher Education Ministry had given preliminary licenses to about 60 investors to establish private colleges in various parts of the country.
A group of Saudi investors intend to establish a joint stock company with a capital of SR2 billion to set up advanced private universities and research centers. Dr. Ibrahim Al-Awaji, one of the project’s promoters, said the company aims at producing highly qualified graduates, matching with those of foreign universities.
