Baseline Assessment Saudi

September 2008
Baseline Assessment of Education in Saudi Arabia

Copyright 2008 by Monitor Company Group, L.P.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the permission of Monitor Company Group, L.P.
This document provides an outline of a presentation and is incomplete without the accompanying oral commentary and discussion.
COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL
AMSTERDAM
BEIJING
CAMBRIDGE
CHICAGO
DELHI
DUBAI
FRANKFURT
HONG KONG
JOHANNESBURG
LONDON
LOS ANGELES
MADRID
MANILA
MILAN
MOSCOW
MUMBAI
MUNICH
NEW YORK
PALO ALTO
PARIS
SAN FRANCISCO
SO PAULO
SEOUL
SHANGHAI
SINGAPORE
TOKYO
TORONTO
ZURICH
2 0 0 8
Confidential
Copyright 2008 Monitor Company Group, L.P. Confidential 2 DES-EOU-Baseline Assessment-August 2008-RBP
Contents
I
Context of the Baseline 3
Key Findings and Implications for the Economic Cities 6
Objectives for the Economic Cities 15
II
Executive Summary and Contents 17
Structure of the System 19
High Investment Levels with Notable Achievements 30
A Disappointing Return on Investment 41
Growing Pains: The Shifting Economy and Youth Bulge 48
Understanding the System: Faculty, Curriculum, Pedagogy 58
Conclusion 66
III
Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary Curricula in Saudi Arabia 68
The Scope of the Public Education System 73
Prevalence of Tertiary Education in Saudi Arabia 82
Workforce
88
Comparison between Private and Government Education 91
Saudi Arabias Performance Across a Range of Metrics 96
Confidential
The Economic Cities are intended to reach global levels of competitiveness as world-class
destinations for investment and business
To improve the economy and raise the standard of living for
Saudis by:
! Enhancing competitiveness
! Creating new jobs
! Improving skill levels
! Developing lesser advanced regions
! Diversifying the economy
PABMEC
TEC
KAEC
KEC
Eastern Province
JEC
Source: Saudi Arabias Economic Cities (Economic Cities Agency, 4/07); SAGIA 10x10 presentation (3/15/08)
Education and the Economic Cities
A critical part in achieving each of these
goals will be the provision of world-class
education at all levels
! However, the Economic Cities do not exist in a vacuum:
The current education system in the rest of the Kingdom
influences how students will learn in the Economic Cities
! Therefore, it is imperative that we understand the current
system, its key issues, and how we can address them in the
Economic Cities
Confidential
Note: Based on a 1 to 7 scale with 1 being worst and 7 being best
Source: Global Competitiveness Report 20072008, World Economic Forum
Education and the Economic Cities
Global Competitiveness of the Saudi Education System
Financial investment
alone has been
insufficient in producing
successful educational
outcomes
There is a clear gap in the global competitiveness of the Saudi education system
Confidential
Current State of Education in Saudi Arabia and
Implications for the Economic Cities
Identify the
fundamental gaps in
quality, capacity, and
governance of the
current education
system in Saudi
Arabia
In our review of the Saudi education system, we have identified a number of pressing gaps
and implications for the Economic Cities
Confidential
Key Findings and Implications for the Economic Cities
! The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a long term social and financial commitment to
education with some impressive successes:
Consistently high per pupil levels of spend on education
Free education for all (primary education through secondary education)
Generous financial sponsorship for tertiary study
Rapid growth in schooling and literacy
! However, a number of challenges remain:
Significantly lower enrollment rates at all levels when compared to developed countries
Disparity between the quality of education provided in schools and that required by employers
Disparity between the subject matter covered by graduates entering the labor force and that
most valued by employers
High dependence on skilled and non-skilled imported labor
Increasing strains on educational system and labor market from a growing young population
! Moreover, the nature of education in the Kingdom will need to adapt to the changing needs of the
economy in the near future:
The key to future prosperity lies in the development of world-class human capital, which will
allow for an evolution of the economy into new, innovative, knowledgebased industries
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Jordan *
* *
*
Mathematics
*
*
Education in the Economic Cities
Pupils Should Meet Benchmarks in International Standardized Tests
Note:
1
Only Jordan participated in the 1999 TIMSS study, they have increased their Science score from 450 (1999) to 475 (2003) while their Math
score declined from 428 (1999) to 424 (2003)
Source: Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), 1999 & 2003
In the current education system, Saudi students perform significantly below international
levels in standardized assessment tests
International Averages
(Math=467, Science=474)
TIMSS Scores, Selected Countries, 2003
1
Confidential
Critical Thinking Should be Placed at the Center of Pedagogy
The majority of teaching in the current system is done by rote memorization, and
examinations are frequently used to test ability to recall rather than ability to understand
Teaching and Assessment in Saudi Public Schools
Even when we studied
different aspects of history,
math or science, we were only
deemed correct if our answer
corresponded exactly to the text
in our schoolbook
Public Sector Saudi
Employee, Riyadh
From my experience, Saudi
students had phenomenal
memory skills, but we had to
spend most of their first year in
college teaching them to think
creatively
Professor of Physics,
UAE
Essay questions, where
students are expected to
demonstrate their knowledge
and understanding of a subject
area are not common place in
Saudi public schools
Private School Principal,
Jeddah
Source: Education Interviews, 2008
Confidential
Note:
1
Based on the Saudi curriculum for male education
Source: World Education Services, 2004, www.eurydice.org
Hours of Teaching Time by Subject in The Netherlands, Sweden and Saudi Arabia, 2004
1
At present, Saudi students both spend less time in school and study a smaller range of
subjects than their international peers
* * * * Hours *
* * * * * * Hours *
* * * * * * * Hours *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Outcomes, Not Inputs, are the Measures of Success
Confidential
* * * * * * * * * * *
Scientific Research Papers per Million People, Selected Countries, 2003
1

Note:
1
Science and Engineering Articles on Clinical medicine, Biomedical research, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth/space sciences, Engineering/
technology, Math, Psychology, Social sciences, Health sciences and Professional, WEF: World Economic Forum
Source: Among the best,28 July 2005,Nature, in-cities.com, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006 (volume 2), National Science Board
The Environment Should Support Novel Research
Research and development activity, which is critical to a knowledge based economy, is much
lower in Saudi Arabia than in more competitive economies
Confidential
Note: Pre-Primary Top Ten figure excludes Germany and Singapore. Primary enrolment data is net, other levels are gross enrolment data
Source: World Bank, UNESCO, Global Competitiveness Report, 2006-2007
Enrollment Levels in Saudi Arabia, 2006
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
All Residents of the Economic Cities Can Benefit from Education
In Saudi Arabia, enrollment levels fall short of international benchmarks; this is particularly
evident at the tertiary level
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Education
Humanities, Health
& Welfare
*
*
Social Science,
Business & Law
* * * * * * * * * *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
At a tertiary level, students in Saudi Arabia have a strong inclination towards studying
education
Proportion of Current Students by Tertiary Subject Area, Selected Countries, 2002/03
1
*
*
Students are Encouraged to Tackle a Range of Challenging Subjects
Confidential
Saudi Families Can Seek Out the Economic Cities for Education Needs
The rapidly growing population of Saudi Arabia will continue to push demand onto an already
overextended education system
School Aged Population, 2004 2025 (in millions)
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Source: Census Bureau, USA
Confidential
Regulations will be Accessible and Transparent
Investors exhibit anxiety around investing in the Kingdom because of shifting rules and little
accountability; further, for certain investors, investing in education is difficult or impossible
Regulatory and Investing Issues in Saudi Arabia
Source: Foreign School Regulation (1
st
Ed.) 1421; Private School Legislative Organization (1395 H / 1976 G), Investor Interviews
At lot of the time
violations of rules are
ignored, we know where
the lines in the sand are,
but to do education
properly is a risk
Private School
Principal, Riyadh
We struggle with the
rules, especially as they
can be changed at any
time. If that happens we
could be out of business
overnight!
Private School
Principal, Riyadh
Representative Regulations from Ministry of
Education for Saudi Private Schools
! Curriculum must follow that laid out by MoE
! One gender only (beyond kindergarten)
! School must be owned by a Saudi national,
25 years of age or older
Owner must hold equal or higher degree
than that being offered by the school
Confidential
Become a hub for innovation
Give schools the freedom to choose how best to meet standards
Deliver a world class quality of education
Offer best practice pedagogy and assessment
Aspire to provide quality education that is widely accessible
Provide opportunities in a full range of subject areas
The Economic Cities Will
Address the increased demand for quality education
Offer a simple and transparent regulatory environment
Confidential
Contents
I
II
Conclusion 66
III
Workforce
88
Confidential
Executive Summary
! The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to education; the Kingdoms
expenditure on education is at a level exceeding that of many developed nations
! Return on this investment has been relatively low in comparison to global
counterparts, as measured by poor results in standardized academic tests and an
over-reliance on imported skilled labor to support economic activity
! In the next decade, the population of Saudi Arabia is expected to grow significantly;
as a result, the education system faces a huge influx of young people
! Unemployment is becoming an increasingly significant social problem: 44% of
individuals aged between 20 and 24 years are currently unemployed. This
percentage will increase in the future as a result of an education system that can
satisfy neither labor market needs nor demographic shifts
! Education reform has been identified as an essential component in the evolution
toward an innovation-based economy and a prosperous future for Saudi Arabia;
ensuring that education reform focuses on three critical areas faculty, pedagogy
and curriculum will enable widespread and sustainable improvements
Confidential
The Baseline Assessment
Contents
! Structure of the System
! High Investment Levels with Notable Achievements
! A Disappointing Return on Investment
! Growing Pains: the Shifting Economy and Youth Bulge
! Understanding the System: Faculty, Curriculum, Pedagogy
Confidential
Structure of the System
! Education in Saudi Arabia is dominated by the public sector and is centrally
administered by three government departments: the Ministry of Education, the
Ministry of Higher Education, and the Technical and Vocational Training
Corporation
! Education is broadly available from the age of 6 years to 18 years. However,
education is not mandatory at every level, thus a non-trivial proportion of
individuals continue to fall outside of the system
! All stages of private education are supported and encouraged by the
government with financial and material support for certain private schools
! However, private K-12 schools that cater to Saudi nationals are often
constrained by the regulations set in place by the Ministry of Education
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Government Bodies
Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education oversees the
education of male and female students
from pre-school until they graduate
secondary school. In addition, the MOE
also governs the curriculum and
development of teacher training and
womens colleges at the tertiary level.
Ministry of Higher Education
The Ministry of Higher Education is
responsible for the public and private
universities and colleges throughout the
Kingdom.
Technical and Vocational Training
Corporation (formerly GOTEVOT)
TVTC supervises the technical and
vocational programs in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia at both the secondary and
tertiary levels. TVTC supervises three
training levels: vocational training,
secondary technical education, and
higher technical education. In addition
to public secondary and tertiary
technical schools, almost 500 private
institutions
at both levels fall under the purview of
TVTC, all of which must have their
curriculum approved by TVTC.
Main Educational Providers
Ministry of Interior
The Ministry of Interior oversees the
education offered through Naif Arab
University for Security Services and
King Fahd Security College.
Ministry of Civil Service
Oversees the Institute of Public
Administration, funded by the Saudi
government to maintain the public
administration system of the country.
Ministry of Health and the Saudi
Commission for Health Specialties
Supervises and approves 21 public
institutes and 25 intermediate health
colleges and as well as the King Fahd
Medical City Faculty of Medicine. The
Commission also supervises 71 private
health institutes.
Ministry of Defense and Aviation
Administers education through military
secondary schools, academies,
institutes and training centers, and
military medical colleges and
universities.
National Commission for Academic
Accreditation and Assessment
Responsible for accrediting new
programs and new institutions of higher
education as well as periodic evaluation
of the academic performance of existing
higher education institutions. This
includes revision of academic
programs, publishing accreditation
information, creating and maintaining
degree level standards, and
establishing benchmarks for quality
during those periodic evaluations. After
institutions have been granted full
accreditation by the committee they will
be expected to complete an evaluation
once every five years.
National Centre for Assessment in
Higher Education
Administers standardized tests for entry
to higher education institutions. Working
along with the Educational Testing
Services (ETS), the center administers
aptitude tests for colleges, universities,
and training departments, and an
English Language proficiency test is
being developed.
Other Educational Providers Assessment Bodies
Confidential
Source: , WENR December 2001, Ministry of Education
! The first formal education system in Saudi Arabia was formed in 1952:
Established through the active support of the late King, Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, who placed the Ministry of
Education and Higher Council for Education as the supreme educational bodies in the Kingdom
! The five levels of education in the Kingdom are comprised of:
Pre-school (2 years, approx. ages 4 6) is limited in coverage and only found in larger cities
Primary school (6 years, approx. ages 6 12) is the only compulsory education in the KSA
Intermediate school (3 years, approx. ages 12 15)
Secondary education (3 years, approx. ages 15 18) prepares students wishing to continue their studies
at the university level or in vocational or religious studies
Tertiary education includes further vocational training, girls colleges and Islamic or western style
universities
! Administration of the educational system is split into four primary bodies:
Primary, intermediate and secondary general education for boys and girls are managed by the Ministry of
Education
Tertiary education is managed by the Ministry of Higher Education
Vocation training is managed by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC)
Traditional Islamic Studies (for boys) and religious secondary schools are administered by Imam
Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University and the Islamic University of Madinah
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Public Education
Established formally only in the last half century, education in the KSA now involves
separate primary, intermediate, secondary, vocational and tertiary institutions
Confidential
* Saudi National Guards Headquarters, Ministry of Defense and
Aviation, Ministry of Interior, Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu,
Saudi Posts Corporation, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water and
Electricity, Ministry of Labor, Presidency of Civil Aviation, King Faisal
Specialist Hospital and Research Center, King Khalid Eye Hospital,
Ports Authority, Public Railways Corporation, Saudi Arabian Airlines,
Saline Water Conversion Corporation, Saudi Arabian Basic Industries
Company (SABIC), Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company
(SCECO) and Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA).
Source: IAU, World Higher Education Database, 8
th
development
plan
Supporting Services
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Education Cluster Map (2003)
Intermediate Education
! 7086 schools in 2004/05
! Intermediate School Certificate
University, Higher Institute
! 11 Universities in 2005
! Girls Colleges
! Private Colleges/Universities (70licenses
issued as of 2003, absorptive capacity of
65,000 students, i.e. 10.7% of 2004 enrolled
students)
Scholarships
! King AA and his Companions
Institution for the talented
! Riyadh Benevolent Science
Institution
! MOE Department of the gifted
! KACST scientific awareness
department
! King Faisal Foundation
Partnering with
private sector
! Cisco
! SARA Holding
Government
bodies, e.g.
! Council of Higher
Education
! Ministry of Higher
Education
! Ministry of
Education
Primary Education
! 13163 schools in 2004/05
Cluster organizations
! SAGIA education sector
! Scientific Societies (47)
! National Commission for
Academic Accreditation and
Assessment (NCAAA)
! National Centre for
Assessment in Higher
Education (NCAHE)
Public Supporting Services
Core Industries
Government
Private Sector
Labor market
Media publishers /
distributors
! Educational Software
! Book Retail
! Publishing
Related Industries
General Secondary Education
! 4215 schools in 2004/05
! Tawjihiyah (General Secondary Education
Certificate)
Technical Education (Junior College)
! Secondary Vocational School Diploma,
Secondary Commercial School Diploma,
Secondary Agricultural School Diploma
TVTC
! Technological Colleges (39,500 students in
2004)
! Vocational Secondary Institutes (23,700
students, 6.5% of tech. education graduates in
2004)
R&D centers (175 total, spend
0.3% of GDP in 2002)
! 57 University Research Centers (1,631
research projects past 4y )
Focus on medical and health
science, agriculture (incl. water),
engineering, basic sciences
! 46 Government Research Centers
(2,119 research projects past 4y)
Focus on medicine, engineering,
agriculture, humanities
! 7 KACST (429 studies during past 5y)
! 65 Private Sector Research Centers
spend 0.4-1.7% of total investment
in R&D
" ARAMCO
" SABIC
" Maadin Company
Libraries,
databases
! 80 public libraries
! 183 specialized
libraries
! 59 academy and
university libraries
General Education
Public (92.5% of students)
Private (7.5% of students)
Pre-primary Education
! 1244 kindergardens in 2002/03
Teachers
Colleges
The Human
Resources
Development Fund
Private Sector Training
! 70800 enrolled students in 2004
Inst. of Public
Administration
TVTC
! Vocational Training (13,500
trainees, 27% of applicants in 2004)
! Other Training programs (ca. 11,000
trainees)
Other Government
Agencies*
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Government Education
2
n
d

L
e
v
e
l
I
n
t
e
r
m
e
d
i
a
t
e

S
e
c
o
n
d
a
r
y

Prep
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
Prep
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
P
h
a
r
m
a
c
y

&

E
n
g
i
n
e
e
r
i
n
g

M
e
d
i
c
i
n
e

A
c
a
d
e
m
i
c

&

P
r
a
c
t
i
c
a
l

C
o
l
l
e
g
e
s

W
o
m
e
n
s

C
o
l
l
e
g
e
s

T
e
a
c
h
e
r
s

C
o
l
l
e
g
e
s

(
M
)

C
o
m
m
.

C
o
l
l
e
g
e

T
e
a
c
h
e
r

T
r
a
i
n
i
n
g

(
F
)

1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
1
2
3
H
e
a
l
t
h

C
o
l
l
e
g
e
s

J
u
n
i
o
r

T
e
c
h
n
i
c
a
l

C
o
l
l
e
g
e
s

I
T

H
e
a
l
t
h

T
e
c
h
n
i
c
a
l

S
u
p
e
r
v
i
s
o
r

A
g
r
i
c
u
l
t
u
r
a
l

C
o
m
m
e
r
c
i
a
l

I
n
d
u
s
t
r
i
a
l

I
n
s
t
i
t
u
t
e
s

f
o
r

t
h
e

M
e
n
t
a
l
l
y

R
e
t
a
r
d
e
d

A
l
-
N
o
o
r

I
n
s
t
i
t
u
t
e
s

f
o
r

t
h
e

B
l
i
n
d

1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
A
d
u
l
t

L
i
t
e
r
a
c
y

1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
1
2
3
Infant
Nursery
Preliminary
1
2
3
4
5
6
18+
19+
20+
21+
22+
23+
15+
16+
17+
12+
13+
14+
Under 4
4+
5+
6+
7+
8+
9+
10+
11+
Q
u
r
a
n
i
c

Q
u
r
a
n
i
c

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

E
l
e
m
e
n
t
a
r
y

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

I
n
t
e
r
m
e
d
i
a
t
e

G
e
n
e
r
a
l

S
e
c
o
n
d
a
r
y

1
s
t

L
e
v
e
l
E
l
e
m
e
n
t
a
r
y

P
r
i
m
a
r
y

A
l
-
A
m
a
d

I
n
s
t
i
t
u
t
e
s

f
o
r

t
h
e

D
e
a
f

&

W
e
a
k

o
f

H
e
a
r
i
n
g

Source: UNESCO
Subjects taught: Religion,
Arabic, Social Studies:
Geography and History,
Mathematics, Science &
Health Ed., Arts & Crafts,
Physical Ed.
Subjects taught: Religion,
Arabic, English, Geography,
History, Mathematics, Science
& Health Ed., Art, National
Ed., Physical Ed.
4 curriculum options:
Religious and Arabic
Sciences, Administrative and
Social Sciences, Natural
Sciences, Technical Sciences
Q
u
r
a
n
i
c

1
2
3
Home
3
r
d

L
e
v
e
l
Confidential
Note:
1
The above information on compulsory education in Saudi Arabia has been added based on the information reported in a report by the MoHE
Source: Earth Trends Country profile. Monitor Libya Example, Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Educational System, Peggy Bell Hendrickson (University of North
Texas) February 2007; Education Encyclopedia State University.com; World Education Services; Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission Ministry of
Higher Education, 2006; State University; WENR December 2001
! Pre Primary:
Duration: 2 years (ages 4-6)
Curriculum: Pre-primary or Kindergarten schools generally emphasize social behavior, hygiene, and play activities
In Saudi Arabia, kindergarten education is available although it is not compulsory
Pre-primary schools are generally co-educational
Pre-primary enrolment is only 8%
! Primary:
Duration: 6 years (ages 6-12)
Curriculum: base education in language, history, mathematics, Islamic studies, geography and home economics (girls) or
physical education (boys)
Schools are segregated on the basis of gender
Only Primary education is compulsory in Saudi Arabia
In primary education, the school year consists of 2 semesters, each semester having classes for 5 weeks and a 2 week
examination period
Qualification: Shahadat Al Madaaris Al Ibtidaa'iyyah (Primary Certificate)
! Intermediate School:
Duration: 3 years (ages 12 to 15)
General Curriculum: Arabic, art education, English, geography, history, mathematics, religious studies, science and home
economics (girls) or physical education (boys)
Leaving Certificate: Shahadat Al-Kafa'at Al-Mutawassita (Intermediate School Certificate)
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Pre-Primary through Intermediate Education
Confidential
Source: Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Educational System, Peggy Bell Hendrickson (University of North Texas) February 2007; Education
Encyclopedia State University.com; World Education Services; Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission Ministry of Higher Education, 2006; State
University, WENR December 2001
! General Secondary School:
Duration: 3 years (age of 15 to 18)
Compulsory Subjects: During the first year, students share a common curriculum, and in the final two years are divided into
scientific and literary streams. Students scoring 60 percent in all first-year subjects may choose between the two streams,
those who score under 60 percent must opt for the literary stream
General Curriculum: Arabic, biology, chemistry, English, geography, history, mathematics, religious studies and home
economics (girls) or physical education (boys)
Qualification: Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat
! Religious Secondary School:
Curriculum: Arabic language and literature, English, general culture, geography, history and religious studies
Qualification: Shahadat Al Thanawiyyah Al 'Aama lil Ma'aahid Al Ilmiyya. Graduates are admitted to university in the humanities
and social sciences only
! Technical Secondary School:
Curriculum: vocation specific
There are three types of technical education offered at the secondary level: vocational/technical, commercial and agricultural.
Admission to a technical school requires the Shahadat Al-Kafa'at Al-Mutawassita (Intermediate School Certificate).
All technical and vocational training comes under the authority of the TVTC
Qualification: Technical: Diplom Al Madaaris Al Thanawiyyah Al Mihaniyyah, Commercial: Diplom Al Madaaris Al Tijaariyyah,
Agricultural: Diploma Al Madaaris Al Ziraa'iyyah
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Secondary Education
Confidential
Source: Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Educational System, Peggy Bell Hendrickson (University of North Texas) February 2007; Education
Encyclopedia State University.com; World Education Services; Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission Ministry of Higher Education, 2006; State
University, WENR December 2001
! Tertiary Higher Level Education:
Duration: programs for humanities and social sciences last 4 years while medicine, engineering and pharmacy programs can
be for as many as 6 years
Curriculum: Universities in Saudi Arabia offer two types of education: traditional Islamic and liberal-oriented. The Islamic
University of Madinahh and Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University focus on Islamic law, Quranic studies, Arabic
language and social sciences
Higher education is provided by seven public universities, 50 women's colleges, and 17 teacher-training colleges
" 6 of the 7 universities operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Higher Education. The seventh, the Islamic University
of Madinahh, is administered by the Council of Ministers
Access to institutions of higher education is based on the results of the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination
The seven major public universities (with the exception of King Fahd University for Oil and Minerals and the Islamic University)
accept entry for both men and women, and all allow foreign students to study alongside Saudis
! Higher Level Vocational Training:
Duration: 1 to 3 years
Curriculum: Vocationally specific
Institutions of higher education below the level of the bachelors degree include 34 colleges for the health-related professions,
20 women's junior colleges, 3 community colleges, 12 technical colleges, 2 industrial arts colleges and one institute of public
administration . There are also a number of military and security colleges
These institutions mostly come under the authority of the TVTC
Admission to any of these schools requires the General Secondary Education Certificate (sciences stream), the Secondary
Vocational School Diploma or the Secondary Commercial School Diploma
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Tertiary Education
Confidential
Ministry of Education
91.5%
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
! In Saudi Arabia, private education is encouraged by the government
and is supported by public funding and administrative support:
In March 2006, the Saudi government approved the first two
private universities and has been encouraging further
participation from the private sector
In October 2005, preliminary licenses were issued to 60
additional providers to enable them to set up private colleges
across the country
! In order to encourage private sector participation in the education of
Saudi citizens, a series of financial incentives have been provided
by the government:
Free textbooks to private schools
An annual financial aid allocation to each private school
Appointment of a qualified director in each private school who is
compensated by the State
Funding of private school students healthcare costs
! Scholarship programs are available for students to study in Saudi
Arabia. Most of these scholarship programs provide benefits such
as:
Coverage of expenses for tuition, room and board,
transportation and additional stipends for spouses and children
Source: Ministry of Education, UNESCO, Ame Info, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Educational System, February 2007, Microsoft Arabia signs MOU to bring
partners in learning initiative to Saudi Arabia, Sep 2004, Ame Info, Toward a national education development paradigm in the Arab world: a comparative
study of Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 2006, Sarah Yamini
Despite the encouragement for private institutions, the vast majority of the overall student
population at K-12 is educated in the public sector
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Public vs. Private
Confidential
Administrative
Region
Male Education Female Education
Elementary Intermediate High School Elementary Intermediate High School
Schools Students Schools Students Schools Students Schools Students Schools Students Schools Students
Riyadh 134 41,636 108 15,181 77 21,347 186 27,601 109 9,978 83 15,994
Makkah 118 29,431 98 10,867 65 14,170 171 26,043 93 6,368 63 7,513
Al-Madinah 16 4,450 13 1,380 8 1,581 26 2,593 17 860 13 2,294
Al-Qaseem 12 1,130 11 419 11 1,935 14 868 11 350 12 2,063
Eastern Region 70 16,965 54 566 38 7,318 66 8,496 37 2,440 26 4,311
Aseer 11 1,856 9 531 8 1,077 15 849 11 280 7 783
Tabouk 10 3,062 7 720 5 1,408 9 1,180 6 316 6 1,069
Hail 5 1,457 2 601 2 726 3 374 2 153 2 462
Northern Region 4 656 4 116 0 0 1 45 0 0 0 0
Jazan 1 126 1 53 1 198 1 69 1 19 1 302
Najran 3 252 1 26 1 192 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al-Baha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al-jouf 9 1,761 5 340 4 367 6 287 2 62 1 67
Total 393 102,782 313 30,800 220 50,319 498 68,405 289 20,826 214 34,858
Source: CDSI Services Survey in the Kingdom (Manual #13) 2005
Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Private Education
The private education sector accommodates 7% of all K-12 students in the Kingdom
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
* Intermediate
*
*
*
*
* Intermediate *
*
Elementary level education is the most popular stage for private education
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

Baseline Assessment
Structure of the System: Public vs. Private Education
Confidential
Contents
Confidential
High Investment Levels with Notable Achievements
! The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a long term financial
commitment to Education:
Spend on education consistently remains a substantial percentage of GDP
Currently spending per pupil in KSA is more than many developed
countries
! This financial commitment has been invested in the development of an
impressive educational infrastructure
! Additionally, several important milestones have been reached:
The literacy rate has risen from 33% to 83% during the last 30 years
" However, illiteracy remains high, with ~ 17% of the population classed as
illiterate, compared to an average of 2.2% across WEF Top 10 Countries
Access to education at all levels has increased as enrollment levels have
risen rapidly, however enrollment across primary, secondary, and tertiary
levels is much lower than that observed in developed countries
Confidential
Source: UNESCO Statistics; World Bank Education Statistics; Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
Public
Expenditure
on
Education
(SAR Bn)
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
Baseline Assessment
Public
Expenditure
on
Education as
a % of GDP
Saudi Arabia has made a strong financial commitment to education during the last 40 years
Confidential
Switzerland Sweden Finland Japan Netherlands
This financial commitment seems set to continue as the country recently invested a
substantial proportion of gross national income in education
Baseline Assessment
Confidential
Source: Education at a Glance 2007, OECD; EconStats; Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency; NCC Analysis
United
States
Norway Sweden Belgium France Finland United
Kingdom
Spain Poland
Switzerland
Denmark Japan Netherlands Germany Italy Saudi
Arabia
Portugal Mexico
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Top 10 Average
$9,094
Education
Expenditure
(USD PPP)
Baseline Assessment
The adjusted level of spending per student places Saudi Arabia among the top education
spenders in the world
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
*
*
CAGR
1970-2005
8.53%
4.40%
*
*
CAGR
1970-2005
18.19%
8.84%
Source: Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, Saudi Arabia
In the last 40 years the continuous investment of the government has provided an extensive
network of schools
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
Note:
1
Primary School: Duration 6 Years (Age 6-12);
2
Intermediary Education: Three Years (Ages 12-15);
3
Secondary Education: Duration 3 years (Age 15-18)
Source: Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency
*
*
*
1
2
3
7.5 %
10.2 %
15.5
CAGR
1970-2005
and recruited a substantial number of K-12 teachers
Confidential
This spending has led to substantive gains in levels of enrollment throughout the Kingdom, as
well as gender parity in access to education*
Note:
1
Primary Education: Duration 6 Years (Age 6-12);
2
Secondary Education: Duration 3 years (Age 15-18);
3
Higher Education involves Diploma & Degree
courses . * Female enrollment is significantly higher at tertiary level
* * * * * * * *
*
*
*
*
0
0
0

0
0
0

0
0
0

CAGR
1970-2005
4.4%
6.7% 13.3%
CAGR
1996-2005
8.2%
10.7%
CAGR
1970-2005
17.7%
*
*
Baseline Assessment
Confidential
Source: The World Bank Group
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
%

o
f

s
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

i
n

t
e
r
t
i
a
r
y

e
d
u
c
a
t
i
o
n

Further, Saudi Arabias tertiary enrollment rate has shown a significant improvement by
almost 10% over the last 8 years
! The proportion of Saudi
Arabian students enrolling in
tertiary education between
1998 and 2006 rose by 9.2%
The period of 2002 2006
marked the greatest growth
in enrollment in Saudi
Arabia (6.9%)
! The majority of Middle Eastern
countries experienced
increasing tertiary enrollment
rates between 1998 and 2006
! However, these enrollment
figures are relatively low when
compared to highly developed
countries
In 2006, the Netherlands
had tertiary enrollment
rates of 59% and in the US
this figure was 82.2%
Baseline Assessment
Confidential
Note:
1
Literacy rate, adult (% of people 15+) is the percentage of people (total, male, female) ages 15 and older who can, with understanding, both read and
write a short, simple statement about their everyday life out of the whole population (total, male, female) ages 15 and older
Source: World Bank Education Stats
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
2.7%
CAGR
1970-2004
1.7%
4.6%
Educational attainment by the general population shows significant improvements and
continues to grow
Baseline Assessment
Confidential
Source: Regional Census 2004
Riyadh
Eastern
Province
Hail
Asir
Makah
Tabuk
Madinah
Najran
Al Jowf
Al Qaseem
Northern
Borders
Jizan
Al Baha
Less than 15%
! 15% to < 20%
! 25%
! 20% to < 25%
Adult
Illiteracy
Level
However, there exist marked regional gaps in attainment
Baseline Assessment
Confidential
Contents
Confidential
A Disappointing Return on Investment
! Though spending per student is on par with the spending of more developed
countries, the performance of the education system in the Kingdom lags
behind these counterparts at all levels
! K-12 math and science education is in need of substantial improvement, with
Saudi Arabia ranking 42
nd
(of 49 countries) in the TIMSS performance survey
! In Saudi Arabia, the average scores in post-tertiary level standardized tests
such as TOEFL and the GMAT fell short of the regional median values and
performance was poor when compared to the global standard
! Further, indicators of innovation such as the publication of peer-reviewed
research papers or the number of registered patents are much lower than the
levels achieved in other countries
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
A Disappointing Return on Investment: Intermediate Education
Note:
1
Only Jordan participated in the 1999 TIMSS study, they have increased their Science score from 450 (1999) to 475 (2003) while their Math
score declined from 428 (1999) to 424 (2003)
Source: Trends in International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), 1999 & 2003
*
*
*
*
*
Mathematics
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Jordan
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
M
e
a
n

T
I
M
S
S

S
c
o
r
e
s

! Trends in International
Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS) is an
international assessment of
the math and science
knowledge of eighth-grade
students around the world
! Saudi Arabia scored below
international averages, and
significantly below countries
such as the USA and the
Netherlands
! Lower scores might be
attributed to the shorter
school year, the teaching
method (rote learning) and
the curriculum design (lower
proportion of time spent on
math and science)
Despite large investments in education, the quality of basic education, particularly in math
and science, is below international averages
International Averages
(Math=467, Science=474)
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
avg. ME
2
*
Singa-
pore
*
Netherl.
*
*
*
avg. ME
*
*
*
* *
*
Netherl.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
M
e
a
n

G
M
A
T

S
c
o
r
e

M
e
a
n

T
O
E
F
L

T
e
s
t

S
c
o
r
e

Baseline Assessment
A Disappointing Return on Investment: Tertiary Education
Note:
1
GMAT scores are from citizens of the countries mentioned;
2
TOEFL weighted average calculated using country
populations; Equals a score of 250 on the TOEFL computer-based exam
Source: www.gmac.com
Weakness in the education system is reflected in average GMAT and TOEFL results which
are substantially below international standards
! The average Saudi Arabian
GMAT score falls short of the
median values
This can be traced to the
fact that the overall quality
of universities in KSA is
substantially below
international standards
! The average TOEFL score is
significantly below the
minimum entry requirement
for English based education
courses
Confidential
Top Ranked Universities in
the KSA
GCC
Rank
World
Rank
KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF
PETROLEUM & MINERALS
1 1,128
KING ABDULAZIZ UNIVERSITY 23 3,108
KING SAUD UNIVERSITY 26 3,259
KING FAISAL UNIVERSITY 36 3,906
UMM AL-QURA UNIVERSITY 44 4,225
ARAB OPEN UNIVERSITY SAUDI
ARABIA
57 5,229
ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF AL
MADINAH
59 5,244
IMAM MUHAMMAD BIN SAUD
UNIVERSITY
69 5,709
COLLEGE OF NURSING AND
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES
70 5,858
KING KHALID UNIVERSITY 81 6,170
! The highest ranked University in Saudi Arabia falls outside of the top 1000 universities in the world
! Saudi Arabias graduate programs also lag behind international counterparts for example, no Saudi
business school is in the Time Top 100 Global Business Schools
Source: Webometrics Ranking of World Universities, Times Higher Education Supplement
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Baseline Assessment
A Disappointing Return on Investment: Tertiary Education
Saudi Arabian institutions seem to lag behind their international counterparts
Confidential
Source: Source: Global Competitiveness Report 20072008, World Economic Forum
*
300
*
*
*
* * * * * *
*
*
*
*
Innovation, as measured by patents granted in the United States, is also clearly lagging
behind in the Kingdom
Baseline Assessment
A Disappointing Return on Investment: Graduate Performance
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

P
a
t
e
n
t
s

G
r
a
n
t
e
d

p
e
r

M
i
l
l
i
o
n

P
e
o
p
l
e

Confidential
Baseline Assessment
A Disappointing Return on Investment: Global Benchmarks
Financial investment
alone has been
insufficient to bring
successful
educational outcomes
In sum, across most dimensions of the education system, Saudi Arabia falls below top ten
countries in the WEF and IMD ranking system
Confidential
Contents
Confidential
Growing Pains: the Shifting Economy and Youth Bulge
! The outcomes of the educational system do not match the needs of the
economy and Saudi Arabia remains dependent on imported labor for the
majority of its economic activity
! The highest level of Saudi engagement in the workforce is in the teaching
profession, reinforcing a downward spiral in the quality of educational
outcomes
! Additionally, the country is experiencing a significant youth bulge, with the
population growing at a rapid rate and large numbers of young people entering
the workforce
! If the ambitious goals of the 8
th
developmental plan are met, there will still be a
numerical shortfall of skilled labor for many years to come and given the low
quality of output from the current system, it is unlikely that these people will be
adequately qualified to fill the jobs that are presumed theirs
! As such, a critical component of the reform agenda should include the
potential to up-skill those lacking the skills and ability to compete in the current
economic climate
Confidential
In addition to the fact that investment is not creating meaningful educational outcomes, the
education system faces two considerable and immediate challenges
! The transition of Saudi Arabia from an oil driven economy to
an innovation driven economy will demand an altered skill set
of the population
! Saudi Arabias burgeoning population will continue to place
great strain on the education system
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: the Shifting Economy and Youth Bulge
Confidential
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Electricity,
gas and water
Saudi Arabias economy is dependent on imported labor preparing the next generation to fill
these labor gaps is critical to reducing this dependence
Note:
1
Scientific, technical and human specialists in private sector
Source: Saudi Arabia Monitoring Agency (SAMA); Central Department of Statistics, Saudi Arabia
* *
1
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Labor Market Suitability
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Investment in Corporate Training
However, many companies in the Middle East invest substantially in corporate training to up-
skill the indigenous workforce
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
T
r
a
i
n
i
n
g

b
u
d
g
e
t

a
s

a

%

o
f

t
o
t
a
l

o
p
e
r
a
t
i
n
g

c
o
s
t
s

! The majority of organizations (56%)
allocate 1% - 3% of the total operating
costs to their training budgets

! 29% of organizations spend less than
1% of their total operating costs on
training
! Total training costs incurred by
companies as a percentage of their
operating costs range from 0.1% to
15%
1
! 72% of the organizations in the Middle
East have started to increase their
training budgets
! Potential drivers of this trend include:
Recruitment of new employees
Investment in people as part of
corporate culture
A need to train local nationals
Skill enhancement for new
technologies
Market growth
Note:
1
Weighted average training budget as % of operating cost approximately 2% across all organizations within the Middle East
Source: Human Resources Survey Middle East Report 2005, Ernst & Young
Confidential
Note: Female workforce growth rate at increase from 5%-15% over 20 years, skilled labor of females taken at same percentage (21%) of male skilled labor; Gap not including
percentage of women entering through University graduation; Gap based on benchmark levels of skilled labor; Skilled workforce includes: Managers, Legislators, and
Professionals, technicians and associate professionals as defined by ILO
Source: 8
th
Development Plan, Saudi Arabia Long-Term Strategy 2025, ILO Workforce Statistics, World Bank GDP, UNESCO
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
0,126
0,166
0,218
0,287
Skilled Labor Needs
Skilled Labor Projections
Skilled Female Labor additions
Anticipated Gap
0,656
0,818
1,178
1,866
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Labor Market Suitability
Even if the goals of the 8
th
developmental plan are achieved there will still be a significant
shortfall of skilled labor in Saudi Arabia
Confidential
m people
* Assuming an unemployment rate of 7% for 2004 ** Based on demographic structure as of 2004, assuming 3.3% annual Saudi employment Growth
Source: Ministry of Economy and Planning: website and 8
th
development plan
8.7
15
6
Potential
gap
Assuming
3.3% annual
growth
80+
75-79
70-74
60-64
55-59
50-54
45-49
40-44
35-39
30-34
25-29
20-24
15-19
10-14
5-9
0-4
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Impending Youth Bulge
A rapidly growing young population compounds the need for an education system that has the
capacity to generate a highly skilled and employable workforce
Confidential
Unemployed
Females
Unemployed
Males
* * * * * *
*
*
27% of
Total
Unemployment
24% of
Total
Unemployment
Males educated to the secondary level and females holding bachelor degrees account for more
than 50% of unemployment in the Kingdom 44% of unemployed are aged between 20 and 24
Source: KSA Ministry of Economy and Planning Social Statistics Labour Force Survey 1428H/2007G
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Unemployment
Confidential
6.2 7.7 8.1
2.4 2.9 3.6
2.5 2.8 3.3
11.1 12.4 15.0
The currently low student-teacher ratio is under threat from the huge numbers of students set
to enter the system in the coming years
*
*
*
Intermediate
CAGR: (1.53)%
Number of
Students per
Teacher
It looks like the reversal of this
trend has already started
Source: Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency; Student Teacher Ratio Calculated using the number of students and number of teachers in General Education at
all levels using the data reported in the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Impact of the Bulge
Confidential
! In early 2007 a $2.4 billion project was launched focusing on
improving the educational environment
! The curriculum of secondary schools is being streamlined to focus
on mathematics, science and computer education
Baseline Assessment
Growing Pains: Education Agenda and Initiatives in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has realized the importance of improving the suitability of education and has
launched a number of initiatives targeted at the education sector
Improve curriculum suitability
Introduce standardized testing
Improve teaching quality
Improve administration of schools
Enhance competitive landscape for
private education
Promote demand for technical
subjects
Upgrade quality of tertiary instruction
Improve awareness of benefits of
education
Develop a structured and innovative
education strategy
Understand low levels of enrollment
! $104 million has been allocated to education in the kingdom's latest
budget along with recently increased funding for overseas study
! In 2006-07 plans for 7 new universities were announced
! In 2005 licenses were issued to approximately 60 additional
investors to establish private colleges
! In 2006, it was announced that foreign universities would be allowed
to set up in the KSA
! There is on-going collaboration with other countries to provide study
abroad opportunities
! A 25-year strategy to develop a higher education system relevant to
KSA job market requirements is currently underway
Source: Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, Education System Undergoing Major Overhaul - April 2007, Arab News, The Development of Education -
September 2001, The International Bureau of Education, www.ameinfo.com, The Competitiveness Review: The Education Sector in Saudi Arabia,
National Competitiveness Center (NCC)
Current Initiatives Additional Recommendations
Confidential
Contents
Confidential
Understanding the System: Faculty, Curriculum, Pedagogy
! Saudi nationals make up 91% of the teacher workforce; these nationals are
products of the Saudi education system that frequently produces poor outputs,
and focuses the pedagogical style on rote learning
! The emphasis on memorization and recollection of facts may lead to the
widespread disengagement of students from the educational process; these
students may graduate disinterested and under-qualified
! Saudi students spend much less time in lessons and more time in assessment
than their overseas counterparts:
While the time devoted to subjects like math and science is comparable to
other countries, the outcomes in these subject areas are poor and may be
attributed to low quality instruction
! The absence of creative arts in the curriculum limits the opportunity to utilize
and develop the natural curiosity of a young mind
Confidential
1
Faculty: Who is teaching?
2
Curriculum: What is being taught?
3
Pedagogy: What strategies of
instruction are used ?
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: The Essence of Education
Though there are a number of components that can improve an education system, the
essence of education what should be focused on for core improvements are threefold:
! A range of additional factors influence
educational outcomes but are secondary
to the three essential elements, e.g.;
! Develop novel
solutions to
complex
challenges
! Advance current
understanding
! Gain critical
thinking skills
! Develop
resourcefulness
! Form ideas and
opinions
Confidential
The vast majority (91%) of teachers in Saudi Arabia are products of the Saudi Education
system
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: Faculty
! In order to teach at the primary school level, teachers complete a two-year junior college training
program and earn a diploma:
Depending on their grades, the diploma program may be considered for transfer credits
towards a Bachelor degree at a university.
Teacher training institutes are being phased out in favor of these junior colleges to
encourage teachers to continue their education at a later time to earn a university degree.
After women have completed a junior college training program and earned the diploma,
they are eligible to teach in female intermediate schools.
! Men teaching at the secondary school level must complete a Bachelor of Education or a non-
Education Bachelor plus a one-year Higher Diploma in Education:
Higher Diploma programs focus either on preparing new graduates to teach at the secondary
level or on training current teachers for administrative management positions in secondary
schools.
Colleges of Education provide four-year degrees in education, and those graduates can teach
in secondary schools
! Teacher education can take place in teacher training institutes, junior colleges, colleges of education, and
universities.
Teacher education reinforces the separation of men and women by varying the educational requirements for
teaching
! Higher education teachers are taught in university education programs, such as King Abdul Aziz
Universitys Center for Teacher Training and Learning Development
Confidential
Source: Development of Education Report, Sep 2004, MoE, MoHE and GOTEVOT; Toward a National Education Development Paradigm in the Arab
World, 2006, Sarah Yamani; Religious teaching on the rise?, Jun 2003, UNESCO; Saudi Gazette; Teach Kids Peace; Company Representative,
DPS Riyadh
! Education in Saudi Arabia is based on the themes of Islam:
The curriculum accordingly lays emphasis on the spread of Islam
and educating students in the spirit of Islamic struggle
Some of the principles of Islam such as spirit of striving will remain
in force until the Day of Judgment is taught through history
According to an article by UNESCO, KSA spends 31% (1,458
hours) of the total intended time for academic instruction during the
first six years of the education on religious education
" This is three times more than in other countries
With regards the control of the curriculum, the Saudi government
has complete authority over all the educational material
! The government is responsible for the supervision over all the books
that come to the country from abroad or go out of the Kingdom to the
outside world. These books are checked for any content that may be
inconsistent with Islam, the intellectual trends and the educational
objectives of the government
! The curriculum differs significantly between international and domestic
schools
E.g., Instruction in International schools occurs in English, and
Arabic is only taught as a foreign language
! The curriculum of Saudi Arabia has been undergoing some changes
in the recent past with the objective of upgrading and modernizing in
line with international standards. Some of these changes are listed
below:
Foreign syllabi: The MoE allowed syllabi in private education to
diverge from the one prescribed by the Ministry itself
" In this regard, private schools will now be open to teach a
foreign syllabus (international subjects and programs) as long
as it complies with the Saudi education policy
Content revision: The government of Saudi Arabia has made
efforts to revise its text books for any content that is inconsistent
with the needs of modern education
English language: As reported in 2006, in an effort to enhance the
English skills amongst Saudis, English classes were introduced
from the sixth grade:
" The above initiative was also complemented by various
teacher training programs in order to have sufficient number of
English teachers
" In an effort to further enhance the English schools, in August
2007, MoE announced its plans to introduce English to fourth
grades classes. To start with, 8 primary schools will be
involved in a pilot program
The public school curriculum is in the process of revision
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: Curriculum
Confidential
Note:
1
Based on the Saudi curriculum for male education
Source: World Education Services, 2004, www.eurydice.org
! A secondary school student in Saudi Arabia spends 15% less time in the classroom each year
(approximately 150 fewer hours) compared to a student in an average Top 10 Country
! The percentage time dedicated to economical valuable subjects, such as math and science, is
comparable across the three countries surveyed
In secondary education there is a significant disconnect between Saudi Arabia and global
benchmarks with regards to the breakdown of teaching time by subject
* * * Hours *
* * * * * * Hours *
* * * * * *
*
* Hours *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: Secondary Curriculum Benchmark
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Nether-
lands
*
Education
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Humanities, Health
& Welfare
*
Social Science,
Business & Law
*
Source: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Total # of
students

19,883 1,552,622 153,333 17,828 144,050 22,767 7,826 525,344 18,638 15,927,987 526,767
%

o
f

s
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

s
t
u
d
y
i
n
g

i
n
d
i
c
a
t
e
d

s
u
b
j
e
c
t

a
r
e
a

And at a tertiary level, students choose or are required to study predominantly within the
humanities
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: Tertiary Focus
Confidential
Baseline Assessment
Understanding the System: A Pedagogical Focus on Rote Learning
Global Best Practices
! Countries with high performing education systems share some pedagogical approaches in
primary and secondary schools, predominantly:
Inquiry-based learning, with a strong preference for skills acquisition over rote
memorization
Student-centered education, with an emphasis on individualized instruction
Multiple-chance learning, allowing students to continue to pursue their education
Strong emphasis on technology, science, and foreign languages
Saudi Arabia
! The predominant pedagogical approach in Saudi Arabia
emphasizes memorization and standardization in learning
and assessment:
Students are taught directly from books while practical
work sessions are rarely used
Critical thinking and questioning are not frequently
encouraged
In Saudi Arabia, education is dominated by the need for rote memorization and accurate recall
of facts
Source: Monitor Analysis, Interviews with education experts
Confidential
Conclusion
! Despite a range of achievements, such as increased enrollment and literacy levels
among the population, Saudi Arabia has a long way to go within the educational
space
! The twin challenges of coping with the transition to a knowledge based economy
and dealing with a burgeoning youth population are considerable, but represent a
singular opportunity to position Saudi Arabia as a world leading economy during
the next century
! Leveraging the Kingdoms considerable oil wealth to develop world beating human
capital is the key to future social and economic prosperity; this will allow for:
Putting jobs traditionally filled by expatriates into the hands of Saudis
Creating new and innovative industries in the future to tackle high levels of
unemployment
! Done correctly, educational reform will bolster the unique moral and cultural
aspects of Saudi Arabia while acting as an example of best practice for the rest of
the world
Confidential
Contents
I
II
Conclusion 66
III
Workforce
88
Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary Curricula
in Saudi Arabia
Confidential
AGE OF ADMISSION
Age 6
LENGTH
Six years
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Curriculum for elementary
education for boys.
Physical education is
replaced by coursework in
womens and art education
Subject
Number of weekly periods per grade*
I II III IV V VI
Religious Education 9 9 9 9 9 9
Arabic language 11 9 9 9 8 8
Social Studies: Geography and History - - - 2 2 2
Mathematics 3 4 4 5 5 5
Science and Health Education 1 2 2 2 3 3
Arts and Crafts 1 2 2 1 1 1
Physical Education 3 2 2 2 2 2
Total weekly periods 28 28 28 30 30 30
ASSESSMENT AND PROMOTION
Students are promoted from one grade to the next and the pass examinations are offered at the end of each
one of the semesters. Students who pass the examination at the end of grade VI are awarded the Elementary
Education Certificate, which qualifies the student for study at the intermediate level.
At the elementary level, the Saudi curriculum is focused on religion and Arabic language
Note: Number of weekly periods per grade" refers to the weekly teaching hours per subject per year. A period means an hour of instruction time in a subject.
Source: World Education Services
Supporting Materials
Saudi Elementary Curriculum
Confidential
Religious education 8 8 8
Arabic language 6 6 6
History 2 2 2
Geography 2 2 2
Sciences and Health education 4 4 4
Mathematics 4 4 4
English language 4 4 4
Art education 2 2 2
National education 1 1 1
Physical education 1 1 1
Total weekly periods 34 34 34
AGE OF ADMISSION
Age 12
LENGTH
Three years
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Curriculum for Lower
Secondary Education for
boys.
For females, physical
education is replaced by
coursework in womens and
art education
The system of examinations is similar to those offered at the elementary level; examinations are given at the
end of each semester of study.
Intermediate education is offered in day and evening programs to accommodate those who
cannot attend normal daytime classes because of jobs or other factors
Saudi Intermediate Curriculum
Confidential
Arabic language and literature 6 9 9
Social sciences 2 3 3
Natural sciences 6 - -
Mathematics 5 - -
Computer 2 2 2
Library and research 1 1 1
Activities 1 1 1
Social sciences 2 5 4
Administrative sciences - 5 6
Mathematics 6 4 4
Computer 2 2 2
Library and research 1 1 1
Activities 1 1 1
At the secondary level, students have a choice as to what type of institution they attend:
comprehensive, vocational, or industrial
AGE OF
ADMISSION
Age 15
LENGTH
Three years
Saudi Secondary Curriculum (1/2)
Confidential
Social sciences 2 - -
Natural sciences 6 13 13
Mathematics 5 6 6
Computer 2 2 2
Library and research 1 - -
Activities 1 1 1
Social sciences 2 - -
Natural sciences 6 6 6
Technical sciences - 8 8
Mathematics 5 5 5
Computer 2 2 1
Library and research 1 - -
Activities 1 - -
Health institutes and nursing schools are also part of the secondary school system;
however, female students are limited in the choices available
At the end of the third year of study, students sit for the national general secondary examination and receive the
General Secondary Education Certificate. Students (males only) who have completed their education in
religious secondary programs receive the Religious Institute Secondary Education Certificate.
Saudi Secondary Curriculum (2/2)
The Scope of the Public Education System
Confidential
Riyadh
2,332,726 3,122,637 5,455,363 404,240 1,550,525 3,521 2,660 6,196
Makkah
2,579,946 3,218,025 5,797,971 153,128 1,900,045 3,026 2,532 5,558
Madinah
700,342 811,734 1,512,076 151,990 490,359 1,017 955 1,972
Qassim
451,757 564,999 1,016,756 58,046 366,782 1,248 912 2,160
Eastern Province
1,448,714 1,911,443 3,360,157 672,522 1,033,811 1,610 1,518 3,143
Asir
791,969 896,399 1,688,368 76,693 617,106 1,629 1,743 3,372
Tabuk
311,550 379,967 691,517 146,072 214,502 411 429 840
Hail
248,953 278,080 527,033 103,887 191,178 537 580 1,116
Northern Border
129,664 149,622 279,286 111,797 100,898 176 180 356
Jizan
573,106 613,033 1,186,139 11,671 441,154 1,021 1,029 2,050
Najran
194,510 224,947 419,457 149,511 150,213 321 329 650
Al-Baha
186,525 191,214 377,739 9,921 178,073 535 479 1,014
Al-Jowf
166,516 195,160 361,676 100,212 131,322 319 307 626
TOTAL
10,116,278 12,557,260 22,673,538 2,149,690 7,365,968 15,371 13,653 29,053
The largest regions of the Kingdom are the most densely populated in terms of school age
population and are covered with the maximum number of schools
Note:
1
Includes children in the age-group of 519
Source: Central Department of Statistics, Saudi Arabia; City-Population - Thomas Brinkhoff; Ministry of Education
Number of Schools by Region
Confidential
* * *
* * *
Expanding Capacity of Saudi Arabias Education System (19702005)
Total Number of Primary Schools, 19702005
Total Number of Secondary Schools, 19702005
* * *
Total Number of Primary School Teachers, 19702005
Number
of
Primary
School
Teachers
(000s)
* * *
Total Number of Secondary School Teachers, 19702005
Number of
Secondary
School
Teachers
(000s)
Number
of
Primary
Schools
(000s)
Number of
Secondary
Schools
(000s)
Confidential
Regional Secondary Student-Teacher Ratio 2004
Saudi Student-Teacher Ratio in Secondary Education, 2004
Source: Ministry of Education
Riyadh
Eastern
Province
Hail
Asir
Makah
Tabuk
Madinah
Najran
Al Jowf
Al Qaseem
Northern
Borders
Jizan
Al Baha
! 13
Less than 10
! 10 to <13
Pupils
per Teacher
Confidential
Note: US figures are from 2003.
Source: Saudi Ministry of Education; ICTs in Schools, European Commission: Information Society and Media
Number of Computers per 100 Pupils in Selected Countries (2006)
Saudi
Arabia
Germany Finland Sweden Netherlands Denmark UK
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

C
o
m
p
u
t
e
r
s

Number of Computers per 100 Pupils in Primary and
Intermediary Education Levels, 2006
Saudi
Arabia
Germany Sweden Netherlands UK Denmark Finland
Number of Computers per 100 Pupils in Secondary Education
Levels, 2006
Confidential
Source: Saudi Arabia Statistical Year Book 2004 & 2005, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ame Info, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Educational
System, February 2007, UNESCO, SAGIA
Medicine 219 55 274 268 80 348
Engineering 106 8 114 137 5 142
Education 38 51 89 94 64 158
Agriculture 23 2 25 9 2 11
Physics 113 66 179 112 51 163
Humanities 59 152 211 75 136 211
Social Sciences 178 76 254 NA NA NA
Fine Arts 0 6 6 3 8 11
Laws 25 0 25 52 3 55
Others 5 0 5 56 23 79
Total 766 416 1,182 1,003 465 1,468
31% 12% 24%
Number of Scholarships to Study Abroad in Saudi Arabia
! In 2005, the Ministry of
Higher Education (MoHE)
and the Saudi Arabian
Cultural Mission
introduced a new
scholarship program in
order to facilitate
scholarships for
15,000-17,000 students
for study abroad during
the last half of the decade
! Although, US and Canada
are the most visited
destinations, there are
also increasing
opportunities in the Asian
countries:
Provision of state scholarships allows a significant number of Saudi students to study abroad
Confidential
Note:
1
M: Male, F: Female (Female colleges are run separately under the universities), C: Co-ed
Source: Ame Info, Saudi Arabias 2006 Budget, 2005 Performance
Universities in Saudi Arabia, 1955-2005
King Saud Riyadh 1957 C !
Islamic University of Medina Medina 1961 NA !
King Abdul Aziz Jeddah 1967 C !
Imam Muhammad Bin Saud
Islamic
Riyadh 1974 C !
King Faisal University Damman 1975 C !
King Fahd University for
Petroleum
Dhahran 1975 M !
Umm Al Qura University Mecca 1979 C !
King Khalid University Abha 1998 C !
Arab Open University
Riyadh,
Jeddah
2002 C !
Prince Sultan University Riyadh 2003 C NA
Qasim University Buraidah 2004 NA !
Taif University Taif 2004 NA !(Private)
Before the
year 2000
there were
only 8
universities for
Saudi
students
Between
2000-2005
4 new
universities
were added
University Landscape in Saudi Arabia (1/2)
To accommodate an increasing number of students, a number of government sponsored
universities have recently been established
Confidential
Note:
1
Some universities have dedicated campuses for female students or additional campuses in a different region;
2
M: Male, F: Female (Female colleges
are run separately under the universities), C: Co-ed;
3
Universities funded by the Government under the budget have been considered as funded
institutions;
4
Proposed admissions for women in future
Source: Arab News, University websites, MOHE; Saudi Arabias 2006 Budget, 2005 Performance
Universities in Saudi Arabia, 2005-2007
Taibah University Medina 2005 C !
King Saud bin Abdulaziz
University for Health Sciences

Riyadh 2005 C NA
Al Jawf University Al Jawf 2005 NA !
Jizan University Jizan 2005 C !
Prince Mohammad University Khobar 2006 C " (Private)
University of Hail Hail 2006 NA !
University College of Jubail Jubail 2006 C NA
Al Bahah University Al-Bahah 2006 NA NA
Najran University Najran 2006 NA NA (Independent)
Al Faisal University Riyadh 2007 M
4
" (Private)
University Landscape in Saudi Arabia (2/2)
10 new
universities
were
established
during 2005
mostly through
mergers of
existing
institutions or
by Royal
decree
A range of reforms have started to promote an increase in private provision with greater
academic freedom
Confidential
Tendency of Middle Eastern Students to Study Abroad
Number of graduating students from a given country studying abroad, selected countries, 2005
Graduating
students
studying
abroad
372 1,013 1,901 519 2,376 2,507 270 1,509 214 6,207 2,230
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Nether-
lands
*
*
*
*
*
%

o
f

s
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

s
t
u
d
y
i
n
g

a
b
r
o
a
d

! A high percentage of the
students from the majority of
Middle Eastern Countries leave
their country to study abroad
! Only 1.7 % of Saudi students
study abroad:
The low outbound mobility
of students might be
attributed to the relatively
low income of the
population (~60% is
considered low income),
difficulties in meeting
international entry
requirements and cultural /
religious factors
! Additionally, Saudi students are
well-supported to study in-
country (annual living expenses
grants of $2,880 for higher
studies, $9,600 for masters
degrees and $12,600 for
Ph.D.s)
1

Though significant scholarships are given, Saudi students are less likely to study abroad as
compared to their Middle East counterparts
Note:
1
There are no tuition fees for most of the public universities in Saudi Arabia
Source: Global Education Digest, UNESCO, OECD
Prevalence of Tertiary Education in Saudi Arabia
Confidential
The skills gap in the Saudi workforce can be attributed to low tertiary enrollment combined with
a lack of graduates in economically important areas
Switzerland
1

*
*
*
A
s

%

R
e
l
e
v
a
n
t

A
g
e

G
r
o
u
p

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
Humanities & Arts
Education
Social Sciences
Science
Unspecified prog.
Health &Welfare
Engineering
General prog.
Agriculture
Services
Note:
1
Figures for general program not found
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Saudi Arabia
Subject Wise Tertiary Enrolment Levels by Percentage of Students, 2005
Tertiary Enrollment by Percentage of Relevant Age Group for KSA and WEF Top10
28%
Sweden
1

*
1.7%
0.2%
GCI Rank
2006: 1
2005: 4
GCI Rank
2006: 3
2005: 7
47%
82%
Switzerland
Sweden
Tertiary Enrollment
Confidential
Number of Graduates by Subject Area, 2005
Education 67 124 47
Social Sciences 41 217 178
Science 39 78 52
Health & Welfare 15 139 46
Engineering 9 134 62
Total 280 820 470
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
! Saudi Arabia produces a much lower number of
graduates in economically important degree
subjects like engineering and science as compared
to Switzerland and Sweden
Tertiary Enrollment
Tertiary Enrollment by Subject Area, 2005
Confidential
Graduates per Thousand People in Technical Disciplines (2005)
*
*
*
*
* * * *
Graduates
per 1,000
People
Confidential
Tertiary Education Attainment by Region (2004)
Saudi Arabias University and/or Higher Education Attainment by Region, 2004
1
Riyadh
Eastern
Province
Ha'il
Asir
Makkah
Tabuk
Madinah
Najran
Al Jowf
Qassim
Northern
Border
Jizan
Al Bahah
10% or more with university education and/or higher
810% with university education and/or higher
6% or less with university education and/or higher
Note:
1
Caculations include Saudi Arabian Nationals only
Source: Ministry of Education Statistical Yearbook, 2006
68% with university education and/or higher
Percentage of Population
with University and/or
Higher Education
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
High Diploma /
Masters Degree
*
*
*
*
*
Likelihood of Saudi Arabians to Pursue Graduate Education
Note:
1
M: Male, F: Female
Source: Saudi Arabian population census, U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Education Digest Statistics
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

p
e
o
p
l
e

w
i
t
h

s
p
e
c
i
f
i
e
d

l
e
v
e
l

o
f

e
d
u
c
a
t
i
o
n

0
0
0

Total Ph.D. 0 443 1,429 3,771 4,642 4,157 2,983 1,530 961 834 20,750
Total HD/MD 380 4,394 8,729 9,361 9,378 7,219 4,467 2,455 1,439 1,124 48,946
Total Univ 115,347 349,715 266,985 168,401 101,073 58,743 27,556 11,722 6,768 6,494 1,112,804
Ph.D.s and
HD/MD as %
of all degrees
0.3% 1.4% 3.7% 7.2% 12.2% 16.2% 21.3% 25.4% 26.2% 23.2% 5.9%
! Approximately 6% (1.1 million) of the
Saudi population has a tertiary degree
! The number of Masters Degrees
(4.1%) and Ph.D.s (1.8%) as a
percentage of all degrees is relatively
low (US: 27.8% and 2.5%
respectively):
A very secure job market for
nationals with an undergraduate
degree may provide limited
incentives for further study
Currently, only a small percentage of students is choosing to pursue graduate level education
Gender:
Workforce
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Electricity,
gas and water
Saudi Arabia is dependent on imported labor for much of its economic activity
Note:
1
Scientific, technical and human specialists in private sector
Source: Saudi Arabia Monitoring Agency (SAMA); Central Department of Statistics, Saudi Arabia
Workforce Division, by Profession, 2005 Workforce Division, by Economic Activity, 2005
* *
1
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Structure of the Workforce Division
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
* * * *
*
*
Anticipated
Labor Force
9,221 11,029 12,764 15,005
2009 2014 2019 2024
Projected GDP /
Capita
$12,850 $15,250 $19,249 $26,260
Benchmark
Countries
Taiwan
($15.197)
Taiwan
($15.197)
Greece
($20,018)
Singapore
($26,814)
Benchmark Skilled
Labor (as % of
workforce)
29% 29% 32% 37%
Benchmark Skilled Labor Needs vs. Projected Skilled Labor (000s)
0,778
0,986
1,396
2,152
Skilled Labor Needs
Skilled Labor Projections
Anticipated Gap
Note: GDP / Capita Growth Rates From 8
th
Development Plan; Skilled workforce includes: Managers, Legislators, and Professionals, technicians and associate professionals as defined by ILO;
Saudi Labor Force Data based on 2001 Statistics,
4
Assuming 8.4% Increase in graduates per 8
th
; Dev. Plan, Graduates calculated as " of all social sciences, business, law (all) science and
engineering( male) students enrolled
Source: 8
th
Development Plan, Saudi Arabia Long-Term Strategy 2025, ILO Workforce Statistics, World Bank GDP, UNESCO
1,000
people
Projected Shortfall of Skilled Labor
Comparison between Private and Government Education
Confidential
Administrative
Region
Riyadh 134 41,636 108 15,181 77 21,347 186 27,601 109 9,978 83 15,994
Makkah 118 29,431 98 10,867 65 14,170 171 26,043 93 6,368 63 7,513
Al-Madinah 16 4,450 13 1,380 8 1,581 26 2,593 17 860 13 2,294
Al-Qaseem 12 1,130 11 419 11 1,935 14 868 11 350 12 2,063
Eastern Region 70 16,965 54 566 38 7,318 66 8,496 37 2,440 26 4,311
Aseer 11 1,856 9 531 8 1,077 15 849 11 280 7 783
Tabouk 10 3,062 7 720 5 1,408 9 1,180 6 316 6 1,069
Hail 5 1,457 2 601 2 726 3 374 2 153 2 462
Northern Region 4 656 4 116 0 0 1 45 0 0 0 0
Jizan 1 126 1 53 1 198 1 69 1 19 1 302
Najran 3 252 1 26 1 192 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al-Baha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al-jouf 9 1,761 5 340 4 367 6 287 2 62 1 67
Total 393 102,782 313 30,800 220 50,319 498 68,405 289 20,826 214 34,858
Private Education Provision by Administrative Region
Confidential
Administrative
Region
Riyadh 1,147 24,9773 108 558 104,495 287 77,895 1,253 248,866 9,978 602 111,197
Makkah 1,091 26,2368 98 553 114,477 318 97,156 1,082 253,273 6,368 566 112,505
Al-Madinah 432 87,150 13 243 37,374 113 32,093 411 82,235 860 211 3,6371
Al-Qaseem 443 59,543 11 210 24,755 113 19,963 498 54,413 350 242 24,257
Eastern Region 552 164,597 54 330 73,299 199 60,548 570 162,075 2,440 285 75,605
Aseer 864 97,257 9 412 43,692 207 39,566 815 89,252 280 332 37,970
Tabouk 188 40,665 7 100 16,005 50 11,983 166 39,663 316 92 15,163
Hail 296 29,835 2 133 13,260 75 11,289 249 27,399 153 115 11,610
Northern Region 87 17,241 4 46 6,840 29 6,541 90 16,262 0 36 6,821
Jizan 493 69,512 1 279 29,826 117 23,469 450 58,015 19 200 22,225
Najran 143 27,335 1 84 10,687 42 9,471 145 24,503 0 59 9,133
Al-Baha 266 19,311 0 115 9,504 51 9,570 275 17,976 0 132 8,536
Al-jouf 133 22,707 5 81 9,534 42 8,801 124 23,312 62 72 9,988
Total 6,135 1,147,294 313 3,144 493,748 1,643 408,345 6,128 1,097,244 20,826 2,944 481,381
Government Education Provision by Administrative Region
Confidential
Private vs. Public Education
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
Private Education

*
*
*
*
* * *
*
*
Government Education

Private education accounts for roughly 7% of all students educated in KSA, with private high
schools responsible for the largest share of private education (9.4%)
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
c
h
o
o
l
s

N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
c
h
o
o
l
s

Private Education Share 7.1% 5.0% 9.4%
Male 8.2% 5.9% 11.0%
Female 5.9% 4.1% 7.8%
Confidential
Private Education by Region
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* * * *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Private Education - Male

Private Education - Female

Private elementary schools teach the largest number of private education students across
gender and regions
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
t
u
d
e
n
t
s

N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

S
c
h
o
o
l
s

Saudi Arabias Performance Across a Range of Metrics
Confidential
Source: IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in World Competitiveness 2002
World Economic Forum Rankings (hard data, survey scale 1-7)
Net primary enrollment rate (hard data) 78 96 !
Gross secondary enrollment rate (hard data) 88 106 !
Gross tertiary enrollment rate (hard data) 28 70 !
Quality of the educational system 3.5 5.2 !
Quality of management schools 4.1 5.5 !
Quality of math and science education 3.9 5.3 !
Internet access in schools is extensive 3.5 6.1 !
IMD Rankings (hard data, survey scale 1-10)
Total public expenditure on education: Percentage of GDP 9.5 5.9 "
Net secondary school enrollment: Percentage of relevant age group receiving full-time
education
52.0 88.7 !
Higher Education: Percentage of population that has attained at least tertiary education 17.7 36.6 !
Adult (over 15 years) illiteracy rate as a percentage of population 20.6 2.2 !
Pupil-teacher ratio (primary education) Ratio of students to teaching staff 12.0 16.2 "
Pupil-teacher ratio (secondary education) Ratio of students to teaching staff 13.0 14.0 "
Youth interest in science is strong (scale from1-10) 5.2 5.5 !
Science in schools is sufficiently emphasized (scale from1-10) 4.4 5.8 !
Source: World Economic Forum, IMD WCY 2006,
Saudi Arabia's Performance Against Global Benchmarks (1/2)
Confidential
The educational system meets the needs of a competitive economy 4.1 6.8 !
University education meets the needs of a competitive economy 4.4 7.2 !
Language skills are meeting the needs of enterprises n/a 7.2 !
Finance skills are readily available 5.0 7.8 !
Education in finance does meet the needs of enterprises 4.4 7.4 !
Economic literacy is generally high among the population 4.3 6.9 !
Skilled labor is readily available 4.9 6.5 !
Qualified engineers are available in your labor market 5.2 6.9 !
Information technology skills are readily available 4.9 8.5 !
World Economic Forum Rankings (hard data, survey scale 1-7)
Quality of scientific research institutions 4.1 5.8 !
Capacity for innovation 3.6 5.6 !
University/industry research collaboration 3.4 5.2 !
Brain drain does not hinder competitiveness in your economy 5.7 7.1 !
Total R&D personnel nationwide per capita Full-time work equivalent (FTE) 0.23 7.21 !
Total R&D personnel nationwide Full-time work equivalent (FTE) 5.2 54.0 !
Knowledge transfer is highly developed between companies and universities 3.8 6.3 !
Saudi Arabia's Performance Against Global Benchmarks (2/2)
Source: World Economic Forum, IMD WCY 2006,
Confidential
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
avg. ME
2
*
Singa-
pore
*
Netherl.
*
*
*
*
*
*
avg. ME
*
*
*
*
*
*
Netherl. *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Mean GMAT scores of citizens, selected countries, 2006-07
1
Mean TOEFL internet test scores, selected countries, 2006-07
M
e
a
n

G
M
A
T

S
c
o
r
e

M
e
a
n

T
O
E
F
L

I
n
t
e
r
n
e
t

T
e
s
t

S
c
o
r
e

# of participants 64 507 209 216 790 42 5 671 553 3057 142K 750
GMAT and TOEFL Scores in the Middle East
Note:
1
GMAT scores are from citizens of the countries mentioned;
2
TOEFL weighted average calculated using country
populations;Equals a score of 250 on the TOEFL computer-based exam
Source: www.gmac.com, www.thunderbird.edu;
This weakness is reflected in average GMAT and TOEFL results which are substantially
below international standards
! The low number of GMAT
test takers in the ME may be
attributed to low tertiary
enrollment, low proportion of
business students, and the
lack of a culture of learning
(guaranteed jobs give little
incentive for further
education)
! The average TOEFL score is
significantly below the
minimum entry requirement
across the region
Confidential
Source: UNESCO; TIMSS Report; Global Competitiveness Report 20072008, World Economic Forum
TIMSS
Score
TIMSS Score in Math and Science (2003)
Confidential
Regional Illiteracy Rate as a Percentage of Population (2004)
Saudi Arabias Illiteracy Rate as % of Population, 2004
Source: Regional Census 2004
Riyadh
Eastern
Province
Hail
Asir
Makah
Tabuk
Madinah
Najran
Al Jowf
Al Qaseem
Northern
Borders
Jizan
Al Baha
Less than 15%
! 15% to < 20%
! 25%
! 20% to < 25%
Adult
Literacy
Level
Confidential
Source: Eurydice; World Education Services
Hours per Year Spent in Secondary School for Select Countries
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Hours of
Secondary
Education
Baseline Assessment: Index of Slides
Confidential
Index (1/3)
Location of Economic Cities 3
Goals for the Economic Cities 3
Saudi Arabias Performance Against the World Economic Forum Education Metrics 4
TIMSS Scores, Selected Countries, 2003 7
Quotes on Teaching and Assessment in Saudi Public Schools 8
Hours of Teaching Time by Subject in The Netherlands, Sweden and Saudi Arabia, 2004 9
Scientific Research Papers per Million People, Selected Countries, 2003 10
Enrollment Levels in Saudi Arabia, 2006 11
Proportion of Current Students by Tertiary Subject Area, Selected Countries, 2002/03 12
School Aged Population, 2004 2025 (in millions) 13
Quotes on Regulatory and Investing Issues in Saudi Arabia 14
Executive Summary 17
Government Bodies involved in Education 20
Education in the KSA 21
Education Cluster Map, 2003 22
Education Flowchart 23
Pre-Primary, Primary, and Intermediate Education in the KSA 24
Secondary Education in the KSA 25
Tertiary Education in the KSA 26
Distribution of K-12 Students by Education Provider, 2005 27
The Governments Role in Private Education 27
Private Education Provision and Enrollment by Region and Gender, 2005 28
Private Education 29
Students in Government Education, 2005 29
Public Expenditure on Education, 1970, 19802004 32
Countries Total Spending on Education as a Percentage of Gross National Income, 2007 33
Public Expenditure per Student on Education Select Countries and Saudi Arabia, 2004 34
Number of Primary Schools, 1970-2005 35
Number of Secondary Schools, 1970-2005 35
Number of Teachers, 1970-2005 36
Gross Primary Enrollment1 Improvement, 1970-2005 37
Gross Secondary Enrollment2 Improvement, 1970-2005 37
Gross Tertiary Enrollment3 Improvement, 1996-2005 37
Gross Tertiary Education Enrollment Rate (%), Selected Countries, 1998-2006 38
Adult Literacy1 Levels, 1970-2004 39
Saudi Arabias Illiteracy Rate as % of Population, 2004 40
TIMSS Scores for Intermediate Education, Selected Countries, 2003 43
Mean GMAT scores of citizens, Selected Countries, 2006-07 44
Mean TOEFL internet test scores, Selected Countries, 2006-07 44
THES Top 100 Universities by Country, 2006 45
Webometrics Rankings of Universities in the KSA, 2006 45
US Patents Granted (per Million People), 2004 46
Saudi Arabias Performance Against the World Economic Forum Education Metrics 47
Growing Pains: the Shifting Economy and Youth Bulge 48
Considerable and Immediate Challenges to the Education System 49
Confidential
Index (2/3)
Workforce Division by Profession, 2005 51
Workforce Division by Economic Activity, 2005 51
Training Budget as a Percentage of Middle Eastern Firms Total Operating Costs, 2005 52
Training Budget Trends for Middle Eastern Companies, 2005 52
Benchmark Skilled Labor Needs vs. Projected Skilled Labor Including Women 53
Saudi Arabia Population, 2005 54
Saudi Working Age Population 54
Saudi Unemployment by Education Status (Age 15+) 55
Student-Teacher Ratio, 1970 2005 56
School Aged Population MM 56
NCC Recommendations for the Education System 57
Responses to NCC Recommendations for the KSA Education System 57
The Essence of Education 60
Supporting Factors 60
Faculty Education Requirements 61
An Overview of the Curriculum in Saudi Arabia 62
Recent Developments in the Curriculum 62
Hours of Teaching Time by Subject in the Netherlands, Sweden and Saudi Arabia, 2004 63
Current Students by Subject Area, Selected Countries, 2002/03 64
Pedagogical Global Best Practices 65
Current Saudi Arabian Pedagogical Practices 65
Conclusion 66
Number of Weekly Periods per Subject and per Grade at the Elementary Level 69
Assessment and Promotion at the Elementary Level 69
Basic Details of Elementary Level Education 69
Number of Weekly Periods per Subject and per Grade at the Intermediate Level 70
Assessment and Promotion at the Intermediate Level 70
Basic Details of Intermediate Level Education 70
Basic Details of Secondary Level Education 71
Breakdown of Subjects Studied, and Periods per Week across Different Grades under
Religious and Arabic Sciences Curriculum at Secondary Level Education
71
Administrative and Social Sciences Curriculum at Secondary Level Education
71
Natural Sciences Curriculum at Secondary Level Education
72
Technical Sciences Curriculum at Secondary Level Education
72
Assessment and Promotion at the Secondary Level 72
Regional Information and Number of Schools per Region 74
Total Number of Primary School Teachers, 19702005 75
Total Number of Primary Schools, 19702005 75
Total Number of Secondary School Teachers, 19702005 75
Total Number of Secondary Schools, 19702005 75
Saudi Student-Teacher Ratio in Secondary Education, 2004 76
Number of Computers per 100 Pupils in Primary and Intermediary Education Levels, 2006 77
Number of Computers per 100 Pupils in Secondary Education Levels, 2006 77
Number of scholarships to study abroad, Issued by Ministry of Higher Education, Saudi
Arabia, 2004 & 2005
78
Details of Universities in Saudi Arabia Established between 1955-2005 79
Details of Universities in Saudi Arabia Established between 2005-2007 80
Number of Graduating Students From a Given Country Studying Abroad in Selected
Countries, 2005
81
Confidential
Index (3/3)
Tertiary Enrollment by Percentage of Relevant Age Group for KSA and WEF Top10 83
Percentage of Students Enrolled in Different Subjects Across Select Countries in Tertiary
Level Education, 2005
83
Number of Graduates by Subject Area Across Select Countries, 2005 84
Graduates per Thousand People in Technical Disciplines, 2005 85
Saudi Arabias University and/or Higher Education Attainment by Region, 2004 86
Number of People with Tertiary Education by Age Group and Degree, Saudi Arabia, 2004 87
Prevalence of Ex-Pats in Workforce by Profession, 2005 89
Prevalence of Ex-Pats in Workforce by Economic Activity, 2005 89
Benchmark Skilled Labor Needs vs. Projected Skilled Labor (000s) 90
Private Education Provision and Enrollment by Region and Gender, 2005 92
Government Education Provision and Enrollment by Region and Gender, 2005 93
Number of Students and Schools in Private Education, Broken Down by Education Level 94
Number of Students and Schools in Government Education, Broken Down by Education
Level
94
Number of Students and Schools in Male Private Education, Broken Down by Region and
Education Level
95
Number of Students and Schools in Female Private Education, Broken Down by Region
and Education Level
95
Saudi Arabia's Performance Against Global Benchmarks 97
Saudi Arabia's Performance Against Global Benchmarks 98
Mean GMAT scores of citizens, selected countries, 2006-07 99
Mean TOEFL internet test scores, selected countries, 2006-07 99
TIMSS Score in Math and Science Across Select Countries, 2003 100
Regional Illiteracy Rate Across Saudi Arabia as % of Population, 2004 101
Hours per Year Spent in Secondary School for Select Countries 102

Baseline Assessment Saudi

Încărcat de

Informații document

Descriere originală:

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Baseline Assessment Saudi

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

September 2008

Baseline Assessment of Education in Saudi Arabia

S-ar putea să vă placă și