Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh said on Monday that his ministry is exerting all efforts to attract more investments into the vital education sector with a fast track system and simplified procedures.

“The ministry is the final authority for issuing licenses and consultancies in the international and foreign education sector instead of education departments in various regions, after establishing a general department for international and foreign schools within the organizational structure of the Private Education Agency. This aims at supporting investors, as well as developing and organizing governance and procedures of work in this sector,” he said while addressing a workshop on investment in private and foreign education.

“This procedure is the beginning of a new phase in accelerating decision-making processes, serving investors according to a clear and transparent vision, and flexibility in applying procedures, legislations and plans, in a manner that achieves educational goals in accordance with diverse global programs in those schools,” he said.

Al-Sheikh stressed the depth of long-term relations between the Ministry of Education, representatives of the private and non-profit sectors, and investors in education in general, and global, foreign, and private education in particular, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

“The ministry does not spare any effort to provide all kinds of support to enhance aspects of investment in education and expand the establishment of international schools and academies in accordance with the highest quality standards, in a manner that enhances our educational outcomes. We want to attract investors to operate special education schools with the ability to provide accommodation for students as boarding schools,” he said.

The minister pointed out that special education will have a special priority in the areas of global investment, which leads to diversity in the educational stage, and to meet the needs of specific groups of students in different types and phases of education.

Al-Sheikh said that the ministry is looking to reconsider the criteria and requirements for establishing governmental and private educational institutions in cities, villages and regions with human density, and that is in coordination with partners from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Civil Defense.

The minister thanked all the participants for the success of the workshop, including representatives of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Ministry of Investment, the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises and Almabani Company.