PARIS: The Kingdom needs more engineering and health care students, said Dr. Khaled Bin Muhammad Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education. In an interview Friday with Okaz/Saudi Gazette in the French capital, Al-Anqari said Saudi universities are working on producing studies and research to set up special programs for young people so they can become successful in future. Al-Anqari rejected the notion of removing certain majors and colleges not required by the job market. He said there should rather be a reorganization of subjects and institutions. These areas of education were not responsible for unemployment in the country. However, “we are trying to increase admission in majors needed in the job market such as health care and engineering”, he said. He said most of the unemployed do not progress past secondary school and go on to college. In addition, a large percentage of the unemployed are women who represent 60 percent of university graduates. For example, women accounting graduates would face difficulties getting jobs despite the fact that accountants are needed. So the issue of unemployment is linked to other factors, he said. He said Qeyas tests, which are obligatory for secondary school graduates applying for admission to universities, are not set by the ministry but by the universities. This is common practice all over the world. Improving the standard of graduates cannot be done without improving those entering university so the tests are helpful in this regard, he said. Anqari said most people support the test and he respects those who have a different viewpoint. “It is natural to have different viewpoints in the field of higher education,” he said. About the low number of Saudi students in France, standing at less than 1,000 compared to other countries, he said the numbers are not low but based on the desires of students to study in certain countries. “Based on the increase in the number of students I hope to see Saudi students in France reaching the required number,” he said. Dr. Abdullah Al-Khateeb, educational attaché at the Saudi Embassy in Paris, said 88 Saudis graduated from France's universities, with 22 bachelor, masters and doctorate students. A number of students had outstanding results. He said the embassy supervises 1,000 students, including 924 in France and the rest in Spain, Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal.
