The Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef Al-Benyan, stated during the Investment in Education 2025 Forum that the Saudi government is investing in education like never before with a budget that meets the growth and development requirements. The goal is to integrate different sectors and place the Saudi education system among the top 20 globally by 2030, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 targets.
The Forum, which took place over two days in Riyadh with the attendance of various ministers and leaders from government and private sectors, emphasized the importance of collaboration between government, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve future educational goals. The Ministry is working towards creating an attractive investment environment for the private sector in education, with opportunities available in school construction, management, services, content creation, and more.
It was highlighted that the private sector plays a significant role in developing the education system, with a current participation rate of 17%, aiming to reach 25% with investor support. The Ministry is continuously supporting the private sector to be effective nationwide, ensuring strategic goals are met and facilitating the development of promising educational facilities.
The Ministry established a Business Center and three advisory councils to support collaboration between different sectors, taking significant steps in development and governance. Initiatives like the improvement of the Teachers Institute and content development by the National Center for Curriculum have been implemented. Quality assurance is ensured by delegating all Ministry affairs to specialized bodies, including the launch of the “Madaris” platform for school evaluation and the Nafis program for national test assessments. These efforts aim to enhance educational quality, competitiveness, and sustainability.
The Forum serves as a pivotal platform for enhancing cooperation between the government and private sectors, discussing future education prospects and strategic investments to elevate educational standards and achieve ambitious goals. Several agreements, such as partnerships with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Infrastructure Fund, Education and Training Evaluation Authority, and the “Meim Ayn” Endowment Education Company were signed during the event. Additionally, collaborations with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Bank and Standards, Metrology, and Quality Organization were launched to support education.
The Forum included dialogues involving officials from government, private, and educational sectors, focusing on strategic investment directions, potential opportunities, challenges, and success stories in private education partnerships. Workshops and papers on various educational fields were presented, showcasing models of public-private partnerships and discussing ways to enhance the private education sector.
Overall, the Forum provided a platform for investors in the education sector to discuss current and future investment opportunities, shed light on strategic directions to enhance the sector, and activate partnerships between the public and private sectors for sustainable development, improved educational efficiency, and the realization of Vision 2030 goals.
