Finnish international private school will be opened here in 2013 to provide world-class education for learners, it was announced at a press conference recently by Sara Al-Kheriji, a well-known Saudi businesswoman and the chief financier and owner of the school. She made the announcement flanked by Jarno Syrjala, Ambassador of Finland to the Kingdom, and Elise Tarvainen, Director of Educluster Finland Ltd. (ECF). ECF will help draw up the curricula for the school. This is the first time such a school will be set up in the country. Saudi Gazette interviewed both the Saudi entrepreneur and the Finnish education expert on the new initiative. Saudi Gazette: What kind of school will it be? What new values can this school bring to Saudi education? Al-Kheriji: First of all, let me tell you a little about how this concept came into being. I heard about Educluster a long time ago. I learned that it was a partnership program to create a Finnish education experience with the creation of world-class flagship schools. I saw two very successful initiatives by Educluster in Abu Dhabi and Al-Ein where two schools were operating. I liked the idea and decided to bring this extraordinary education experience to my country for the first time. I met with the authorities at Educluster and we discussed how we could set up an exceptional school with Finnish expertise and local Saudi-trained teachers. We want to teach an international and creative Finnish curriculum suitable for our community and which also matches Saudi traditions and norms. The school will be ready by 2013 and will only be a kindergarten in the beginning. By 2016 the school will expand to cover elementary, intermediate and secondary grades. By 2022 we will have two segregated buildings for both male and female students. One level of the school will be put up by the Vahanen Group, which is considered one of the biggest Finnish-owned technical consulting organizations in construction and property. Vahanen offers services in architecture, geotechnics, building services, structural engineering, refurbishment, property management and expert services in building and environmental consulting. Tarvainen: Our Finnish school would provide Saudi students and teachers with the most developed education methodology, a more competent schooling system and curricula compatible with the Saudi environment and culture. SG: Where will the school be built? How big is the entire area? Al-Kheriji: The school will be built in northern Jeddah. However it will not be in the far north, so it will be easily accessible to most of the neighboring districts. The first phase of the building will cover an area of around 300 square meters. It will be expanded in the second and third phases to about 800 square meters. SG: Do you think your school will be affordable for the average Saudi family? Al-Kheriji: We have not discussed the financial issues yet because the school hasn't been completed. However, I can frankly promise that our prices for tuition will be very competitive in comparison with other prominent international schools. We have to mention here that our school will bring something new and valuable to our children in terms of high-quality education in a very healthy environment and based on well-designed curricula. SG: How can this Saudi-Finnish education partnership help to create more jobs for Saudis and contribute to education policy? Tarvainen: The ECF contributes to policy by providing specific and tailored educational solutions. We also conduct training for Saudi teachers and administrators. Moreover, our partnership program in Saudi Arabia provides for facilitated workshops and seminars and learning visits to Finland. It should be mentioned here that we have had previous experience of partnerships with Saudis in the field of vocational training since 2010. We have trained many Saudi instructors at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). __
