Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah has urged students and teachers to continue their efforts to make greater achievements in the field of education in the new 2012-13 academic year.

“You should emulate your brothers and sisters who achieved international acclaim in advanced positions in scientific competitions with their hard work in studies and with the selfless support of their teachers,” the prince said in a welcome message to the millions of students on the eve of the new school session.

The prince was referring to Saudi students competing in the latest Math Olympiad who achieved first position in the Arab world and 29th in the world. More than 100 countries competed in the event.

More than five million students return to their schools and educational institutions as the new academic year begins in the Kingdom today.

The minister said a strategic plan to develop education under the King Abdullah Project to Develop General Education would be in place for the current school year.

The ministry has also implemented new curricula for mathematics, sciences and the English language in various stages of school education, while the curricula for nursery classes are undergoing evaluation studies. The syllabi for computer studies would also be implemented soon, the minister said.

“The curriculum has been improved after studying the experience in other countries and also in response to the demands of national development and competitiveness,” the prince said.

In its effort to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, the ministry acquired 78 percent of all school buildings, as 41 percent of schools were operating in rented buildings in 2009, the minister said. He added that the ministry built 2,500 school buildings at a cost of SR 19 billion over the past three years.

“The ministry is currently striving to implement a vision to strengthen the concept of partnership with the private sector with the founding of a company called Education Development Holding Co. with specialized subsidiaries fully owned by the government,” the prince said. He added that the holding company would lighten the burden of the ministry and its administrative wings. “This will help the ministry to devote its full attention to teachers, students and syllabi.”

The minister also referred to the various high-tech systems developed by the ministry aimed at offering better service to teachers, education officials, students and parents and the society as a whole. They include the “Nour” to help the administration, the “Faris” for financial and administrative activities, the “Educational Map” to locate school sites, and the “Liqa” for video conferencing, besides the program for online linking of schools and administrative offices.

The minister also welcomed 150,000 men and women teachers who were awarded permanent status in their jobs with a recent royal order. He hoped that the ministry’s daily transportation arrangements for 110,000 teachers would put their minds at ease concerning travel worries and better enable them to focus on their jobs. He appealed to all teachers to devote their maximum efforts to improve the educational standard in the country.

The minister also disclosed that the ministry completed preparations to implement a plan to decentralize the educational system based on the unification of its policies and procedures and enhance the powers of the directors of the education administration and school principals.

The ministry began opening 1,000 educational clubs in different towns throughout the country. The clubs will serve all segments of society and create an atmosphere of education and entertainment for school parents and students.

The minister also stressed the importance of guardians encouraging their children to achieve greater successes in school.

“Education is a partnership between schools, families and society, and each individual has to play his or her role,” the prince said, concluding his statements.