JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is giving special attention to the education sector, the general supervisor of King Salman Humanitarian Aid And Relief Center (KSRelief), Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, has said.
This sector plays a vital role in sustainable development, the advancement of societies, the improvement in living conditions in needy countries and in taking vulnerable people from need to self-reliance.
“The Kingdom supported the educational process with various programs and projects that profited more than 2.3 million students in 32 countries. It cooperated with 27 partners including four United Nations organizations and programs. One hundred and thirty-two humanitarian and educational programs and projects were put in place with a total value of $5,212,929,000,” Al-Rabeeah explained.
“The Kingdom contributed in the construction of educational facilities with 51 projects, the covering of educational costs for refugees with two projects, scholarships with 33 projects, the improvement of the quality of education with two projects, the government’s support to the Ministry of Education with six projects, the rehabilitation and equipment of educational facilities with 10 projects and the provision of school supplies with 14 projects.
“It also carried out two projects through UN organizations, in addition to five projects to help students pursue their education, four projects for training, capacity building and skills acquisition, two projects to support the preparation of teachers and a single operational expenses project,” he added.
Al-Rabeeah pointed out that Yemen is top of the list of countries benefiting from humanitarian projects and programs carried out by the Kingdom in the educational sector, with 41 projects at a value of $1,880,570,000, while the rest of the projects have been implemented in many Asian, Arab and African countries.
“KSRelief has carried out 48 educational projects and programs in nine countries, benefiting more than 2 million students with a value of $93,663,000 in cooperation with 22 partners. These projects covered various educational sectors.
“Yemen was once again the country to benefit the most from KSRelief’s educational projects, with eight projects valued at $63,787,000.
“These efforts come as part of the humanitarian message of the Kingdom represented by KSRelief and according to King Salman’s and his crown prince’s directives to support brotherly and friendly countries. They aim to spread education among countries in need and their people, support schools and educational facilities with human resources and provide school supplies,” Al-Rabeeah noted.
Saudi Arabia’s boost for education in needy countries with projects worth $5bn
Saudi Arabia’s boost for education in needy countries with projects worth $5bn
Makkah museum displays world’s largest Qur’an
MAKKAH: The Holy Qur’an Museum at the Hira Cultural District in Makkah is showcasing a monumental handwritten copy of the Holy Qur’an, recognized as the largest Qur’an of its kind in the world.
The manuscript measures 312 cm by 220 cm and comprises 700 pages, earning the museum recognition from Guinness World Records for displaying the world’s largest Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The manuscript is a magnified reproduction of a historic Qur’an dating back to the 16th century, the SPA stated.
The original copy measures 45 cm by 30 cm, with the chapters written primarily in Thuluth script, while Surah Al-Fatiha was penned in Naskh, reflecting the refined artistic choices and calligraphic diversity of the era.
The Qur’an is a unique example of Arabic calligraphy, gilding and bookbinding, showcasing Islamic art through intricate decorations, sun-shaped motifs on the opening folio, and elaborately designed frontispiece and title pages that reflect a high level of artistic mastery.
The manuscript was endowed as a waqf in 1883. Its original version is currently preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries, serving as a lasting testament to Muslims’ enduring reverence for the Qur’an and the richness of Islamic arts across the centuries.
