Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Dr. Bedour Alrayes, deputy CEO of the Human Capability Development Program (HCDP), said that the program includes the launch of new curricula featuring changed and advanced teaching methods. She said that the private and non-profit sector is a key player in the program’s initiatives.

In an interview with Al Arabiya channel on Thursday, she said that the Human Capacity Development Program, launched on Wednesday by Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, deputy premier, minister of defense and chairman of HCDP, aims to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi citizens through four basic components.

Dr. Bedour said that the components include developing basic and future skills and developing knowledge through three main pillars, including establishing a solid foundation for all citizens, preparing for the current and future labor market, in addition to developing lifelong learning opportunities.

She explained that in order to reach this path, 89 initiatives are being implemented with the concerned authorities, which include the human journey from early childhood until after retirement.

“The rate of enrollment in early childhood education is 23 percent, and our target is to reach 40 percent by 2025 and 90 percent by 2030.

“Reaching these percentages is through three basic initiatives that include expanding early childhood and kindergarten through expanding buildings and classrooms, enhancing the basic skills of children, launching new curricula and developing public teaching methods.

“This is in addition to raising the contribution of the private sector. It is one of the main enablers of non-profit initiatives, through cooperation with all the concerned parties,” she said.

Dr. Bedour stated that the 89 initiatives are sufficient to help develop human capabilities, pointing to the current and future role of the private sector, which is one of the main capabilities in the program, starting from schools, universities, vocational training, as well as lifelong learning and training.

“There are initiatives that include educational curricula, and there are future plans to launch new curricula soon, with changing teaching methods focusing on basic and future skills,” she added.

The Crown Prince launched on Wednesday the Human Capability Development Program, one of the realization programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The program represents a national strategy to strengthen citizen’s capabilities locally and globally by seizing promising opportunities resulting from accelerated and renewed changes around the world. The program includes 89 initiatives aimed at achieving 16 strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The program’s strategy is built on three pillars: develop a resilient and strong educational base, prepare for the future labor market locally and globally, and provide lifelong learning opportunities.

The program’s initiatives include promoting the expansion of kindergartens, which will help to develop a resilient and strong educational base for all children. Moreover, the career guidance and counseling initiative will provide citizens with the capabilities and skills necessary to plan their career objectives.

There are also a number of initiatives to target upskilling and reskilling citizens to increase employability rate and enable entrepreneurs and innovators for the future labor market locally and globally.