The 2025 Economic Forecast and Budgetary Plans of the Kingdom show ambitious efforts to reinvigorate the education sector through collaborative investments. Minister of Education يوسف البنيان emphasized the need for integration among governmental, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve future education objectives. By creating an attractive investment environment for the private sector, the government aims to see its contribution rise from 17% to 25% with the help of local investors.
To support this vision, البنيان highlighted multiple opportunities available for investment, particularly focusing on constructing and managing schools, providing educational services, and developing educational content. This strategy aligns with the broader goals of modernizing the educational infrastructure and ensuring quality education for all citizens.
Premier investments have been discussed at the annual education investment forum, described as pivotal for fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors. By initiating this dialogue, the Ministry of Education is setting the stage for strategic investments aimed at enhancing educational quality and accessibility.
The Ministry has also launched dedicated business support centers and advisory boards to encourage this integration. Recent operational changes have expanded the role of the National Center for Curricula Development, aiming to enrich the educational material available to students, thereby creating more engaging learning experiences. The quality assurance mechanisms are also being reinforced, ensuring every school meets established educational standards.
One of the hallmarks of this progressive educational vision is the 2025 goal for the Kingdom to climb international education rankings. Significant progress was recorded with achievements like improving the enrollment rate in higher education (ranked 29th globally) and elevational ranks of the country’s leading universities (reaching 24th according to QS rankings). Such achievements underline the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving world-class education standards.
Another key development is the launch of the National School Evaluation Program, which has seen 99% of the Kingdom's schools participating. This program, initiated with the cooperation of the Education Evaluation and Training Commission, includes assessments by certified educational evaluators and is being hailed as one of the most comprehensive assessments of its kind ever undertaken. The aim is to provide qualitative feedback and improve teaching standards across the board.
Signficantly, the ministry is also focusing on fostering digital education by integrating technology within the classroom, which supports the move toward sustainable digital development. Initiatives to attract international recognition, such as commendations from UNESCO for the Kingdom’s advancements in governance of e-learning, are part of this strategy.
Looking forward, the Minister concluded by reaffirming the importance of this dual collaboration between sectors as instrumental for not just enhancing education but for nurturing the overall economic progress of the Kingdom. These efforts will, hopefully, transform the educational fabric of the nation, preparing students for future challenges and making them competitive on the global stage.