Public Schools in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of this book is to provide Western readers with quick information on the public school system in KSA. When I was studying for a master's degree in the United States (namely, at Cleveland State University), my American classmates would ask me on occasion about education in Saudi Arabia and how it differs from education in Ohio. Therefore, I decided to write a little book about the essential topics of education in Saudi Arabia. The book is divided into six chapters. The first chapter presents the beginning of education in Saudi Arabia in general, including historical information on the development of the education department and today's Ministry of Education. This chapter also provides valuable information on women's education, which was a hot topic at one time. Chapter 2 describes the Saudi educational system in general. This section covers topics that include the philosophy of education in the country, the levels of education in schools, and the curriculum. Chapter 3 briefly presents the most important rules and regulations applied to the Ministry of Education. These regulations include the method of employing teachers, which differs significantly from the method used in American schools. Chapter 4 highlights the government's role in education. The government actively contributes to the financing and development of education in the country and contributes to the provision of free education to Saudis in public as well as higher education. Chapter 5 attempts to present the most critical challenges facing Saudi schools and education systems in the 21st century. The final chapter provides fast facts about Saudi Arabia.