THE need for a modern education system was first realized when the Kingdom introduced a structured curriculum for primary, intermediate and secondary levels in the 1950s.
However, it was not until more than a decade later that the government began to understand the necessity of vocational and technical education facilities — which led to the opening of the first technical institute in Riyadh in1966. Four years later, starting with the first Five-Year Development Plan in 1970, Saudi Arabia began actively constructing vocational and technical institutions throughout the Kingdom. The effort of training Saudi nationals was, and still is, aimed at meeting current and future demands for skilled manpower and phasing out the need for foreign labor.
Placed in charge at that time were the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. They were responsible for overseeing the initiative and making sure all regulations were upheld. However, unimpressed with the pace of progress, the government centralized and simplified matters in 1979 with the creation of a single authority known as the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).
The decree which established the TVTC made it mandatory that all training centers formerly run under the Ministries of Education, Labor and Social Affairs be transferred to the TVTC. Nonetheless, a section for vocational and technical education still exists under the Ministry of Education in further support of TVTC.
One of the first initiatives TVTC undertook was to expand existing technical colleges and build new ones under the four main categories of technical education which included:
Industrial education: Catering to those who have completed intermediate school courses such as computer science, communications, electronics, mechanics and metal construction.
Commercial education: Training students to manage commercial, office and financial obligations; providing practical training and theoretical studies in accountancy, marketing, word processing, office management and secretarial work.
Technical inspector education: Offering students training in civil works, survey and architectural drawing and works.
Agricultural education: Training Saudis in agricultural areas such as animal production and agricultural mechanization.
Since its establishment, TVTC has actively collaborated with numerous ministries, chambers of commerce, the public and private sectors and international bodies to expand vocational and technical education throughout the Kingdom. To date, cooperation agreements in the field have been signed with organizations from the UK, the US, France, Singapore and Japan, to name a few. The links with Japan have been particularly fruitful.
“The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japan Cooperation Center for Middle East (JJCME) are supporting business oriented vocational training programs for business people. Over the past four years they have carried out many seminars and workshops such as the Kaizen (improvement) Seminar and the SME Seminar in cooperation with the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industries and related government organizations,” explained Koki Tomioka, Director General of JETRO Riyadh.
JETRO is also involved in Saudi Electronics and Home Appliances Institute (SEHAI) project and Higher Institute for Plastic Fabrication (HIPF). But perhaps the best known venture has been the Saudi Japanese Automobile High institute (SJAHI).
“It is one of the most successful Saudi–Japanese vocational training projects implemented by both governmental and private sectors of the two countries,” Tomiaka said. For the two governments, there is TVTC and the Japan International Cooperation Agency while for the private sector there is the Japanese Automobile Distributors in the Kingdom and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers’ Association which participate in the Saudi private sector.
Tomiaka also pointed to the remarkable achievements in the field of vocational training. “Saudi industries need more qualified manpower, particularly engineers and technical experts, and this is a primary reason why Japanese companies plan direct investments with the Kingdom,” he said. There was a constant problem of a lack of skilled Saudi workers and qualified manpower, he explained.
