Saudi signs $533m deal for 200 new schools

Saudi Arabia has signed a SR2bn ($533m) contract with the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) to build 200 schools across the country.

Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad, Minister of Education, signed the deal, reported the Saudi Gazette, adding that the schools will be ready in 14 months.

The new schools will be able to take 150,000 pupils, said Faisal Bin Abdul Rahman Bin Muammar, Deputy Education Minister.

“The specifications of the buildings are in-line with international standards and the aim is to provide a better educational environment to our kids,” he told the paper.

The ministry is currently undertaking a huge scheme to provide new schools for 1.7 million pupils. As part of this some 3,500 schools of different sizes are to be built all over the country at a total cost of SR20bn.

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READERS' COMMENTS

"Smart Rooms" and "Green Buildings"
Posted by T Crowe Semler, Fayetteville AR, USA on Sunday 26 July 2009 at 20:58 UAE time


Congratulations to the Youth of Saudi Arabia and all the citizens. The design of these new schools will hopefully have state-of-the-art "smart rooms" to allow students and instructors the best in internet technology / interactive resources and audio / visual teaching techniques. Empower teachers requires "continuing ed" to insure they are current with the most modern methods and equipment for effective teaching. Also the use of "green design" to set an example for the utilization of "solar power" and "wind energy". The Education Ministry has a great opportunity to set the new standard for Saudi public buildings. The greatest resouce of any nation is an educated population. Best wishes on all the Kingdom's "proactive" projects for the citizens and future generations.

Schools numbers vs. the education system
Posted by Mohaned on Sunday 26 July 2009 at 11:38 UAE time


the number of schools already there is not a problem compared to an out-dated material and poorly designed or I'd say passed-its-time education system.

There has to be change in the way they want to teach students and in those who will pass on the knowledge.

There is a lot to be considered other that building new schools and not starting to along other things to make education meaningful for the forecoming generation.

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