| INVESTING IN EDUCATION: SAUDI PREPS FOR THE DIGITAL AGE |
There is a good reason why Saudi Arabia’s education continues to get the largest allocation in the national budget.
The government sees educational attainment as a way to help Saudi nationals navigate the changing global economy, and contribute to the diversification of the country.
The 2021 Saudi budget has SAR 186 billion earmarked for education – the biggest expenditure item by far – spread across 33 government entities serving the sector.
The education sector’s mandate in the budget is “setting up of schools, colleges, and university cities; managing external scholarship programmes of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques; support of research, development and innovation; setting up university hospitals; and supporting knowledge sources.”
Last year, Saudi Arabia spent 1.4% more on education than budgeted to SAR 205 billion, underscoring the sector’s importance.
But the investment paid off as the kingdom pushed through with a number of achievements in the sector. These included resuming education through the Madrasati e-learning platform and enrolling 5 million students in the system.
The initiative was vital as the pandemic had disrupted normal school and university life, and the online education platform ensured that students were imparted education in the safety of their own homes.
Various government entities also created 23 educational satellite channels (Ain) and on YouTube that were viewed 91 million times.
In addition, the government established the Academy of the General Authority for Zakat and tax during the year, the budget notes.
This year, the government has set out clear targets for the education sector. These include shifting towards digital education to support student and teacher progress, and launching the fourth phase of the external scholarship programme of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque.
Another key goal is to attract well-known foreign universities to open branches within the kingdom.
The government also plans to launch a cultural scholarship programme for undergraduate level and above in international educational institutions globally, and to award scholarships and training to 10,000 students.
Another key goal this year is to establish three academies, namely the National Academy of Artificial Intelligence, the Academy of Administrative Leadership Development, and the Academy of Public Health.
SPACE CADETS
Studies in innovative and digital technologies remain a key focus area for the government.
In December, the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) signed an executive programme agreement with France’s International Space University (ISU) to collaborate in training and provide Saudi students access to space sciences, research, and innovation through academic experience exchange.
“The agreement aims to jointly support education and scientific research at the graduate level by providing integrated educational national cadres training programmes through which human capital can be developed, and by investing in research and development related to the space field,” according to the SSC.
GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE 2020
Saudi Arabia fared well in the Global Knowledge 2020 Index, developed by the United Nations Development Programme.
“Saudi Arabia is a strong performer in terms of its knowledge infrastructure. It ranks 42nd out of 138 countries in the Global Knowledge Index 2020 and 40th out of the 56 countries with very high human development,” the UNDP said in its latest report.
The survey also highlighted the kingdom’s key areas of strength, including availability of technicians and strong ICT infrastructure, apart from lower tax rates, which made Saudi Arabia an attractive place to secure an education.
The breakdown within the survey showed Saudi Arabia was ranked 12th among 138 countries in technical, vocational education and training, thanks to the focus on manufacturing industries in the kingdom.
The country also ranked high, at 35th, in research, development and innovation, and 36th in information, communication and technology. Saudi Arabia secured the 60th spot in higher education, according to the survey.
The focus on education over the past decade has also helped boost the youth’s education skillsets.
PASSING THE TEST
In December, the Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission, said that the kingdom’s students improved their score in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).
The quadrennial TIMSS tests are the global education benchmark that compare the math and science capabilities of students in each country. The latest results taken from 11,000 male and female students across the kingdom showed there were noticeable improvements in all indicators of academic achievement in 2019 compared to the last test taken in 2015.
Average scores of intermediate second-grade students in mathematics increased from 368 points in 2015 to 394 points in 2019, and in science from 396 points in 2015 to 431 points in 2019.
Average achievement of fourth-grade students in mathematics also increased to 398 points in 2019 compared to 383 points in 2015, while they scored an average of 402 points in 2019 compared to 390 points in science in 2015.
“The results revealed the positive impact of students' enrolment in kindergarten and early reading and writing activities, at home, as well as their enrolment in schools with high levels of school discipline, as the three variables are associated with improved performance in mathematics and science, at the level of the kingdom as well as at the international level,” the survey noted.
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