Saudi unveils $3.1bn revamp to education system

SAUDI SCHOOLS: A $3.1 billion project aims to transform the kingdom's education system. (Getty Images)

Plans for a $3.1 billion shake-up to the education system in Saudi Arabia has been revealed.

As many as 50 secondary schools in different parts of the kingdom have been selected to trial a major facelift of the kingdom’s education system.

The project aims to train more than 400,000 teachers in school management, educational supervision, computer science and self-development skills, Arab News reported on Wednesday, citing the Saudi Press Agency.

In a recent report by the World Economic Forum on the competitiveness of world economies, education was singled out as an area for Saudi Arabia to develop.

Naif Al-Roumi, director general of the project, told the paper: “There will be two schools for boys and girls in each city.”

The government has allocated more than $3 billion for the project including funds for improving the educational environment, extra curricular activities, training and development of teachers and curriculum development.

Education Minister Abdullah Al-Obaid said the project would help achieve overall development of students by increasing their knowledge as well as their physical and intellectual capabilities.

The new educational system plans to take the best practices from countries such as Singapore, Japan, China, New Zealand, Finland, France, UK, Canada and the US.

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