JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is making efforts to improve the quality of its education sector’s infrastructure by encouraging public-private partnerships, said Education Minister Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh.
The Ministry of Education and Tatweer Buildings Co. (a government-owned entity) on Tuesday announced on their websites the list of prequalified investors, who met the prequalifying criteria to bid for the first project of the executive program for encouraging public-private partnerships initiative to boost infrastructure of the education sector. The committee of the executive program was established by a royal decree.
“The executive program aims to increase the quality of infrastructure in the education sector and to create an attractive investment environment in accordance with best international practices,” the education minister said.
“This first project will follow a build, maintain, transfer (BMT) model and will comprise contracting with the private sector to finance, build and maintain 60 schools — 33 schools in Makkah and 27 in Jeddah — on contract.
Fahd Al-Hammad, the CEO of Tatweer Buildings Co., said: “We held a public-private partnership roadshow earlier in 2018, in which 96 companies took part. Around 57 companies expressed their interest in the project.
He appreciated the role of the National Center for Privatization (NCP) in the selection of investors.
The education minister said public education will continue to be free in both new and old schools owned by the ministry by saying; “The ministry is committed to providing high-quality educational services.”
The Council of Ministers recently passed a resolution approving SR400 million annually to support this program.
Public-private partnership to boost education sector in Saudi Arabia
Public-private partnership to boost education sector in Saudi Arabia
- The education minister said public education will continue to be free in both new and old schools owned by the ministry
Saudi FM joins Arab counterparts in talks with Slovenia on Gaza, regional stability
- Prince Faisal and Tanja Fajon later signed general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing ties between Kingdom and Slovenia
LJUBLJANA: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks with Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon in Ljubljana on Friday, as he joined Arab counterparts for an expanded meeting focused on Gaza and wider regional developments.
Prince Faisal met Fajon separately to review Saudi-Slovenian relations and explore ways to strengthen cooperation across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The two sides later signed a general cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing ties between the Kingdom and Slovenia and intensifying joint efforts to support further progress and prosperity for both countries, SPA added.
The expanded ministerial meeting also brought together Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani and Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan Al-Muraikhi.
During the talks, ministers discussed ways to bolster regional and international security and stability, with a focus on the situation in Gaza.
They stressed the need to uphold the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, ensure its full implementation and deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to the enclave.
The officials also reviewed efforts to advance US President Donald Trump’s peace plan and reiterated the importance of achieving a clear political horizon leading to an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.
They addressed developments in the occupied West Bank, calling for an end to illegal, unilateral Israeli measures and violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, warning that such actions undermined de-escalation efforts.
The ministers praised Slovenia’s support for Palestinian rights and its recognition of a Palestinian state, and also discussed broader regional developments, ways to reduce escalation through dialogue, and efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
