Top marks for Saudi universities as new admissions hit record

JEDDAH: Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Salman yesterday commended Saudi universities for admitting a record number of students during this academic year (2012-13).
Prince Salman made this comment while receiving Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari and presidents of Saudi universities at his office in Al-Salam Palace.
Prince Salman reiterated the government’s commitment to Shariah and highlighted the tremendous progress achieved by the Kingdom under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
Al-Anqari briefed Prince Salman on the measures taken by his ministry to ensure a smooth launch of the new academic year, admitting the largest number of students compared to previous years.
According to Mohammed Alhizan, spokesman of the ministry, 258,617 students have been admitted to 25 government universities across the Kingdom for the new academic year.
The new admissions covered 71 percent of 360,343 available seats.
Alhizan said 126,833 male students and 131,784 female students had been accepted by the end of August.
About 87 percent of applicants were admitted to the regular full-time programs, he said.
Also yesterday, Prince Salman received the newly appointed Saudi ambassadors Hisham Al-Qahtani (ambassador to Brazil), Adnan Al-Mandil (Gabon) and Saeed Al-Jumaie (Cuba) and wished every success for them.