History

A formal education system took shape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when the General Education Management Center was established in Ramadan, 1344H, which laid out the first plan for a complete educational system. On 27 Muharram, 1346H, an Education Management Committee was formed which established a single system of education, with different educational levels. The first primary curriculum was designed by 1354H. During 1357H a private school system was also formalized.
The Ministry of Education was formed in 1373H. The first education minister in the Kingdom was the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Fahd Bin Abd AlAziz.
The most significant achievements of the Ministry in its initial days were:

1. Creation of an administration plan for the Ministry of Education.
2. Construction of schools and continually improving the standards of education.
3. Laying the foundations of higher education with the inauguration of the King Saud University in Riyadh

Aims

1. To provide opportunities for education to every citizen of learning age, according to his abilities and inclinations, and to facilitate these opportunities by providing the appropriate infrastructure and services.
2. To design and execute projects that cater to the requirements of the Ministry such as construction of educational buildings, and renovation of existing educational sites, by investing capital sums in the private sector for the implementation of such projects.
3. To improve the curriculum and constantly upgrade the general education system so that it is in accordance with contemporary societal and industry requirements. 

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Policies

1. Enrolling all Saudi children of primary school-going age.

2. Increasing the number of enrolments by encouraging educational programs to fulfill the needs of the Ministry and the industry.

3. Implementing educational and training programs for Teachers Colleges and others on the same level to improve their skills and enrich their experiences.

4. Raising the minimum educational requirements for primary level teachers seeking admissions to the Teachers Colleges to bachelor’s degree to ensure that all teachers would have attended university.

5. Implementing educational and training programs for the society as a whole through the Social Service Center in the Teachers Colleges.

6. Constructing schools and initiating campaigns and programs to eradicate illiteracy in all parts of the Kingdom.

7. Setting up night schools for elementary and secondary levels of education for adults.

8. Enhancing skills, abilities and student interest through scientific, cultural, social, sport, technical, and scout activities.

9. Overseeing and enabling special educational services to the handicapped including blind, deaf and those with other disabilities.

10. Working on early detection of disabilities and publishing information on ways to deal with them.

11. Working towards initiating specialized library services like talking library, publishing hearing books in accordance with the policies of the Ministry.

12. Increase construction of libraries and historical museums.

13. Working towards the achievement of self-sufficiency by enabling Saudi citizens to be capable of teaching at all educational levels.

14. Reducing the average amount of failures and dropouts in all educational levels by raising educational standards.

15. Exchanging industrial and cultural information between the Kingdom and the Arab, Islamic, and friendly countries in accordance with the cultural exchange agreements.

16. Tracking the progress of curricula and educational plans development in Teachers Colleges to ensure the achievement of the Ministry's ambitions and the integration the same with curricula for general education.

17. Participating in international and national exhibitions with a view to introduce the educational and cultural activities of the Kingdom to the public.

18. Constant supervision and providing technical and material help to private education and working towards improving their systems and procedures.

19. Developing national solidarity and national integration through a well balanced educational curriculum
     

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