MBS plans to reform Saudi education system to increase workforce | Business and Economic News

Saudi Arabia is planning to overhaul its education system to better align the results with the needs of the job market.

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia plans to overhaul the country’s bleak education system to cultivate values ​​such as tolerance and hard work, and to better prepare citizens for jobs.

According to a summary of the human capacity development plan announced by the Saudi official news agency on Wednesday, the transformation will cover all levels of education from early childhood to adult learning opportunities.

The plan aims to better align the Kingdom’s educational achievements with the needs of the labor market, as the unemployment rate is hovering at 11.7%. It said other goals include the cultivation of values ​​such as gentleness, perseverance and a “diligence culture.”

This reform is part of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Vision 2030” strategy to diversify the oil-dependent economy. This also shows that he wants to weaken the reputation of the kingdom as an ultra-conservative Islamic country.

For a long time, Saudi Arabia’s public schools have been bastions of creeds promoted by its religious institutions, such as strict gender segregation. Prince Mohammed has been relaxing social restrictions and calling on citizens to take a more “moderate” path of Islam, even if he suppresses domestic critics.