25 Interesting Saudi Arabia Education Facts [100% true]

The Best Facts About School in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is the second-largest country in the Arab world. It is located in the Middle East and has a unique history and culture. Its capital city is Riyadh, which has a bit more than 7,676,000 inhabitants.

An interesting part of the country that I wanted to tackle is its education. In light of that, I have listed my 25 best facts about the Saudi Arabia education system, and I hope you will love them:

1. Education used to be for the very privileged in Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially established in 1932, and it has gone through drastic changes since then.

At that time, very few people had access to education: only children of wealthy families living in the major cities would attend school.

2. Nowadays, everyone has the right to education in Saudi Arabia

When I say there were drastic changes in Saudi Arabia’s education over the years, I truly mean it.

Everything is different from 1932 now: there are around 30,000 schools, more than 50 public and private universities, and most importantly everyone can attend school.

3. The study of Islam is at the core of Saudi education

While many things have changed over time in the Saudi education system, the study of Islam definitely isn’t one of them.

This remains at its core to this day, but it is of course not the only course: schools provide quality instruction in many fields of arts and sciences.

4. Education is mandatory for every Muslim, male and female, in Saudi Arabia

Not only is education free and accessible to everyone in Saudi Arabia, but it is also mandatory for every Muslim, whether they are male or female.

This follows the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, which repeatedly insists on how important learning is.

5. Saudi Arabia’s Golden Age helped the world’s education as a whole

The Golden Age of Saudi Arabia happened during the centuries after the birth of Islam, while Europe was in the Dark Ages.

At that time, the country made major contributions in fields like astronomy, physics, art, and medicine. Methods used at that time became the foundation of modern sciences and were even taught in European universities later on.

6. Saudi students have a first choice to make after intermediate school

After primary school comes intermediate school in Saudi Arabia.

And at the end of it, students must make their first decision when it comes to education: they can either choose to attend a general high school or a vocational school.

7. The Saudi curricula are very diverse

Students in Saudi Arabia attend very different courses.

The major fields of study are math, science, literature, history, Arabic, and Islam. It is the Saudi Ministry of Education that rules over the curriculum and sets overall standards for the country.

8. The Saudi government actively tries to improve its education

A very good aspect of the Saudi education system is that the government of the country constantly tries to improve overall educational standards.

Training programs for teachers are of great quality, student evaluation is constantly reassessed and improved and more and more schools are using technology as a medium of education.

9. Saudi Arabia’s student-to-teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the world

Saudi children and students can enjoy having a student-to-teacher ratio of only 12.5, which is one of the lowest in the world.

This is mostly due to the governmental efforts paying off. On top of that, the number of Saudi schools also increased dramatically over the recent years.

10. Since the beginning of the 1970s, Saudi Arabia is heavily focused on higher education

Saudis believe in the power of higher education. Because of this, and ever since the beginning of the 1970s, they started investing in it.

A separate Ministry of Higher Education was established in 1975 for that purpose. It launched a long-term plan to adapt skills to the labor market.

11. Many higher education institutes were recently built in Saudi Arabia

One of the objectives of the plan developed by the Ministry of Higher Education was to build many new institutions of higher education, all around the country, and to expand already existing ones.

Thanks to this, many universities, colleges, and technical institutes were recently built in Saudi Arabia, with 25 major public universities to this day.

12. Undergraduate and postgraduate programs cover a very wide range of subjects in Saudi Arabia

The other main objective of the Ministry of Higher Education was to expand the undergraduate and postgraduate programs’ range.

Consequently, students in Saudi Arabia now have access to programs and degrees in almost any field, and there is less and less need for them to pursue specialized studies abroad. 

Stephen Downes / CC BY-NC

13. The number of students in Saudi Arabia’s higher education has exploded in the past years

In 1970, there were only 7,000 students in Saudi Arabia higher education. Now, there are about 1 million of them!

This is due to the rapid expansion of facilities and institutes in the country, and students usually do not need to study abroad. In case they really want to, the government supports them with scholarships.

14. Over half of the tertiary education students are female in Saudi Arabia

Despite many stereotypes that people can have regarding female education in Saudi Arabia, it is in fact highly regarded.

Out of the 1 million students in the country, over half are female. They attend major universities, but also all-female colleges and private women’s universities.

15. The oldest university in Saudi Arabia dates back to 1957

The oldest university in Saudi Arabia is King Saud University, and it is located in Riyadh, the capital city.

When it opened in 1957, there were only 9 teachers and 21 students. Nowadays, 65,000 students pursue higher degrees in various fields like art, science, commerce, engineering, agriculture, medicine, and computer science.

16. The largest university in Saudi Arabia counts over 70,000 students

In Jeddah, you will find the largest university in Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz University.

More than 70,000 students are now learning in this public university, but that was not always the case. It was originally founded by a group of businessmen who believed in the power of education. However, it grew so quickly that they asked the government to take over its operation a few years later.

Stephen Downes / CC BY-NC

17. There are very highly regarded Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia

You already know how the study of Islam is pivotal in Saudi Arabia’s education.

There are even specialized universities in that regard, like the Islamic University, Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, and Umm Al-Qura University. All of these have incredible Islamic law, historic, and Arabic literature departments.

18. The world’s largest university for women is in Saudi Arabia

Again, if you thought women were disadvantaged compared to their male counterparts when it comes to education in Saudi Arabia, you are completely wrong. 

Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University, which was founded in 2007, is the world’s largest university for women: there are more than 52,000 students!

19. One of the best petroleum and minerals universities in the world is in Saudi Arabia

The main reason why most people have already heard of Saudi Arabia is its oil.

The country is the second-largest oil producer in the world and knows everything about it. In fact, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals is one of the oldest and one of the best universities in the world, in that specific field.

20. Saudi Arabia also established institutes outside of the country

By now, you have probably realized how much effort is put into education, specifically higher education in Saudi Arabia.

However, the country also established institutes abroad. The three largest ones are in the United States, Britain, and Germany. They accommodate students from kindergarten to the 12th grade and provide Islamic and Arabic studies.

21. Special education also exists in Saudi Arabia

Whether they are physically or mentally disabled, Saudi students can also access regular education. It is controlled by the Special Education Department of the Ministry of Education.

There are schools for the blind, deaf, and other physically and mentally disabled students.

22. Adult education is taken more and more seriously in Saudi Arabia

Lifelong education is a very interesting practice that originated in Scandinavia, Europe. It consists of always learning, even as an adult.

In Saudi Arabia, adult education is an important part of the educational program. There are many adult education centers all around the country, mostly to eliminate illiteracy.

23. Technical education is a major part of education in Saudi Arabia

One of the essential parts of education in Saudi Arabia that I have not yet talked about is technical and administrative training.

There are in fact many public and private training institutes where students can pursue degrees in fields like sciences, healthcare, agriculture, and teaching.

24. Saudi students have access to a wide range of technical fields for their studies

The most famous institutions dedicated to technical training are the Royal Technical Institute in Riyadh, the Hofuf Technical Training School, and other centers in Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam.

There, students can learn about many different subjects, like metalworking, electromechanics, and electronics.

25. There is a dedicated organization for Saudi technical education

The General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training rules over technical education in Saudi Arabia. It works along with the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Depending on the needs of the marketplace, students can also choose to attend specific private institutes that cover other topics.

So there you have them, these were all my 25 interesting facts about Saudi education. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the rest of the country, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about:

Saudi School Hours

Let’s keep going with our next part, dedicated to Saudi school hours. The typical school schedule in one country can often be very different from your own, and it’s always interesting to have more details on how students go on about their day.

Saudi Arabia Primary School Schedule

The general Saudi education system consists of kindergarten, six years of primary school, followed by three years of intermediate school, and three years of high school.

When it comes to primary school, children enter the first grade at the age of 6. To pursue their studies in intermediate education, they will need to pass an examination.

Typically, the Saudi school day starts at around 7 AM before ending at 3.30 PM.

The Saudi school year runs from the end of August or the beginning of September to the beginning of June of the following year.

Saudi High School Schedule

Before secondary school comes intermediate school in Saudi Arabia. It lasts for 3 years, and the gross enrollment rate is 95.9 percent.

In Saudi Arabia high schools, the gross enrollment rate is 91.8 percent.

There are both general and specialized secondary institutes in Saudi Arabia.

General Facts About Schooling in Saudi Arabia

This last part is dedicated to general facts about schooling in Saudi Arabia. More specifically, we’ll check 2 key figures that will give you a better understanding of the education level in Saudi Arabia.

Enrollment in tertiary education for Saudi Arabia: 54.88%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 8.6% | South Asia: 20.8% | Arab States: 36.4% | East Asia: 36.5% | Latin America: 43.3% | Europe and Central Asia: 62% | North America: 84%)

Data from World Bank EdStats/UNESCO

Saudi Arabia literacy rate: 95%

(Average for regions: Sub-Saharan Africa: 65.3% | South Asia: 72.9% | Arab States: 79.4% | Latin America: 93.7% | East Asia: 95.8% | Europe and Central Asia: 98.5%)

Data from World Bank EdStats/UNESCO

More Education Facts!

Do you want even more education facts about other countries?

Check out these facts:

• Education in Afghanistan
• Education in Israel
• Education in Iraq

Or click here to see ALL the education facts up on the blog!

The Full List of 25 Saudi School Facts

1. Education used to be for the very privileged in Saudi Arabia
2. Nowadays, everyone has the right to education in Saudi Arabia
3. The study of Islam is at the core of Saudi education
4. Education is mandatory for every Muslim, male and female, in Saudi Arabia
5. Saudi Arabia’s Golden Age helped the world’s education as a whole
6. Saudi students have a first choice to make after intermediate school
7. The Saudi curricula are very diverse
8. The Saudi government actively tries to improve its education
9. Saudi Arabia’s student-to-teacher ratio is one of the lowest in the world
10. Since the beginning of the 1970s, Saudi Arabia is heavily focused on higher education
11. Many higher education institutes were recently built in Saudi Arabia
12. Undergraduate and postgraduate programs cover a very wide range of subjects in Saudi Arabia
13. The number of students in Saudi Arabia’s higher education has exploded in the past years
14. Over half of tertiary education students are female in Saudi Arabia
15. The oldest university in Saudi Arabia dates back to 1957
16. The largest university in Saudi Arabia counts over 70,000 students
17. There are very highly regarded Islamic universities in Saudi Arabia
18. The world’s largest university for women is in Saudi Arabia
19. One of the best petroleum and minerals universities in the world is in Saudi Arabia
20. Saudi Arabia also established institutes outside of the country
21. Special education also exists in Saudi Arabia
22. Adult education is taken more and more seriously in Saudi Arabia
23. Technical education is a major part of education in Saudi Arabia
24. Saudi students have access to a wide range of technical fields for their studies
25. There is a dedicated organization for Saudi technical education

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