There is a pressing need for a fund, similar to the Industrial Development Fund, to invest in private education to aid the country's development, said Dr. Abdul Rahban Al-Haqbani, Chairman of the National Committee for Private Education at the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce. He made the proposal while addressing a meeting of private school owners in the Eastern Province on Sunday. He said some private institutes are more than 60 years old in the province. He said eight out of 10 private boys schools and nine out of 10 private girls schools are the overall top-performing schools in the country. Al-Haqbani said the Ministry of Finance has been asked to increase its loan to the sector to SR35 million. He said the committee plans to hold a financing conference soon. Invitations have already been sent to banks and other lending bodies, he added. __
