JEDDAH: The education minister on Saturday set a 100-day deadline to shake up teaching in the Kingdom, encouraging leaders in the sector to get away from their desks and out of the office.
Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh issued the challenge at a workshop assessing the status of the public education sector, its output and future work trends in order to achieve the goals laid out in the Vision 2030 reform plan.
Al-Sheikh, who was in Riyadh, stressed the importance of studying the current status of education and overcoming the challenges facing its development.
He gave education leaders 100 working days to achieve a different output by giving the sector more attention, away from office work as much as possible, and learning about all educational interactions away from desk reports.
The minister pointed to the importance of addressing any possible imbalance in the distribution of schools and teachers, and any deficiency associated with the professional development of teachers.
Educational output must be the main concern of every official, he told the workshop, and there must be a realistic and clear plan of action that did not get bogged down in useless and time-wasting theorization and strategies.
Workshop sessions were organized in groups and focused on the changes facing education such as privatization, financing, foreign competition and changes in labor market requirements.
Saudi education minister sets 100-day deadline for change, seeking better performance, quality
Saudi education minister sets 100-day deadline for change, seeking better performance, quality
- The minister pointed to the importance of addressing any possible imbalance in the distribution of schools and teachers, and any deficiency associated with the professional development of teachers
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
