The Ministry of Education will set up a commission to conduct a major evaluation of all its programs to determine strengths and weaknesses and set new performance standards for schools, teachers and students.

The “Commission for Evaluating Education,” which will be formed soon, will hire consultancies to carry out the work. It will evaluate the general performance of schools, curricula, and develop and implement national exams.

The ministry’s efforts come after calls by education experts for an evaluation of the Saudi education system.

Naif Al-Roumi, undersecretary for planning and development at the Ministry of Education, said that mathematics and science were of strategic importance. “This project is not important for the ministry only, it is also a national project,” he said.

He added that the ministry has designated an experienced agency, with top qualifications and capabilities, to conduct an assessment study for this strategic project. “The concerned agency is The Excellence Research Center of Science and Mathematics,” he added.

The contract is for three years and will take place in three stages, said Al- Roumi. It covers textbooks and vocational development. The first year of evaluation has already been completed.

During a workshop in Riyadh to discuss the formation of the commission, Al-Roumi explained that the project stems from the ministry’s belief in the importance of neutral evaluation. “But the project should be given the time period needed to mature and yield a true value,” he said.

Once all the studies and reports have been compiled from the evaluation, the ministry will hold a workshop with officials and experts to determine how the findings can be implemented.

Fahd Al-Shaya, Director of the Center, said that the project aims to produce a plan that suits local conditions and needs.

Dr. Nasser Al-Ewashiq, Director of Education at Obeikan Group, said his organization is participating in this strategic project with a group of its mathematics and science experts. He said they are seeking compatibility with the McGraw-Hill International standards for mathematics and science at all levels of education in the Kingdom.