By Abdulaziz Al-Rubaie

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Barely 10 months ago, Ahmed Bin Fahd Al-Fuhaid, governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) claimed that there were about 30 international technological colleges training about 25,000 Saudi students. But 12 of them have just disappeared from their Internet site, according to informed sources.

Sources said there are now only 18 such colleges training as many as 20,000 male and females students.

They said the fate of the staff and students of these colleges has become obscure especially amid reports that both the students and teachers would be sacked.

Sources said some staff members have already received their dismissal notices from the company of distinguished colleges which was established about six years ago in 2013.

Sources said the retrenchment notices were a clear indication that these colleges would be closed down permanently.

They said one of the colleges which would be closed down has 400 staff members and hundreds of students from Jeddah and Makkah.

They said Makkah, with five colleges, has the highest number of international technological facilities which are being operated by three international training providing companies.

The company of distinguished colleges was established to promote technical and vocational training for young Saudi men and women according to the international standards through cooperation with training providers from the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.