Population Growth and Quality of Education in Saudi Arabia

According to recent statistics, experts expect the Kingdom’s population to reach 30 million by 2010, with a growth rate of over 3.5 percent a year. Recent statistics also demonstrate that about 40 percent of Saudi population fall in the age rate between 0 and 15 years. Due to the aggressive population increase, the Saudi Government has recognized its responsibility to ensure that its young citizens are fully equipped to create and achieve comprehensive social and educational development by giving more roles and share to private education and enhance the quality and capacity of its higher education system. {draw:frame} The structure of private schools closely match with structure of public schools as follow A drawback of private schools in the region is their high staff turnover. Like other expatriates, teachers tend to change jobs and locations quite frequently. This can lead to a lack of continuity in children’s education and be a disruptive influence. As a result of the massive young population growth in the kingdom, higher education system has to base its strategies and expansions to cater more numbers and variety of fields to offer for the general education outcome. Final touches are being put to a 25-year higher education strategy that will soon be presented to higher authorities for approval, Minister of Higher Education Dr Khaled Al Anqari is reported by Khaleej Times said. Saudi academics and officials have been involved in preparing the strategy to develop the country’s higher education system in line with its development, population increase and job market requirements. “We have completed studies on seven major aspects of higher education with the support of research groups from different Saudi universities,” said Muhammad Al Ouhali, director of the project. In the last four years the number of universities in the country has risen from eight to 20, and plans are undergoing to add 12 new universities, and the signing of cooperation agreements with leading universities in the US, Europe and Asia.