RIYADH: The Ministries of Labor and Education have chalked out a coordinated plan to provide job-oriented education programs for students, Labor Minister Mufrej Al-Haqabani said on Saturday.

The minister was speaking at a workshop on “Education and Work,” which was held at the headquarters of the ministry.

The program targets both male and female students who graduate from schools, colleges and universities throughout the Kingdom.

Education Minister Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Issa as well as several others like Deputy Minister of Labor Ahmad bin Saleh Al-Humaidan, Technical and Vocational Training Corp. Dr. Ahmed bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Director General Dr. Abdul Karim bin Hamad and a number of heads of departments in the Ministries of Education and Labor were present.

“It is our primary duty to prepare students who graduate from schools to fit into various vocations according to their aptitudes,” Al-Haqabani said.

He said the program comes in line with the vision of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also chairman of the Council for Development and Economic Affairs. “The deputy crown prince is keen on imparting the right skills on students to fit into various vocations in the public and private sectors so that they will be useful citizens in society.”

He also pointed out that preparing students for suitable vocations in their lives is an onerous task. “Vocational guidance, counseling and guiding them according to everyone’s capacity and capability have to be instilled in the minds of the students.”

The education minister described the cooperation as an effective partnership between two bodies that deal with education and employment which guide the youths of the country to a proper way.

A conducive environment should be created to make students learn according to their aptitudes and capacities so that they will find employment of their own choice which should give everyone job satisfaction.

The two ministries will work on a 10-point program which will include a program of education; career guidance in schools and universities; catering to the needs of the labor market; preparing a competent academic and administrative staff for the education sector; vocational training for students; reorientation of graduates to work in the health sector; improve nursery education in schools; support the training and employment of persons with disabilities; and organize a short-term training program for students who are graduating.