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Presentation Overview
We will look at the challenges facing the education system in Saudi Arabia under the following headings:
Historical Trends
Gender
Multiculturalism Social Class
But firstly,
Some facts about Saudi Arabia
Language: Arabic
Religion: Islam
Capital: Riyadh
Currency: Saudi riyal King: Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Population: 28.29 million (2012)
Students can choose either the GSEC or CVSEC (General or Vocational Stream) in Secondary School
Classes segregated by gender Education is free at all levels System is open to all citizens
Source: World Education Services 2009
2012
Illiterate, 60%
Literate, 87%
One fully integrated university King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
The first all female college, Princess Nora University, was opened in 1970 It recently added a $5 billion high-tech campus (2011) Now the largest all female university in the world with 50,000 enrolled
Source: Global Penn State 2013
This appears to be having an impact as, in 2011, 57% of all graduates in Saudi Arabia were female
However, in a bid to foster cross-cultural understanding, its young people do travel to western countries to study, many under the King Abdullah Scholarship programme
In 2013 alone over 34,000 Saudi students were enrolled in 3rd level institutions in the United States under this programme These periods of overseas learning allow students to experience various cultures for themselves and return to Saudi Arabia with a broader world view
It focuses on moving away from the traditional Saudi methods of teaching & towards encouraging students to analyse and problem solve
It is also more focused on creating an education system which provides more secular and vocationally based training
Source: Various
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mKXCBCAjT0
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More and more Saudi children and young adults enjoying the benefits of education
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A highly skilled workforce better equipped to manage in the global economy
Success!