RIYADH — A report from the Ministry of Education (MOE) explored possible solutions to the difficulties facing private education in the Kingdom, Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Tuesday. The solutions include privatizing parts of public education including new government schools, while the MOE will subsidize student fees. Another suggestion is to merge government schools scattered in villages and entrusting them to the private sector. The private sector is to provide appropriate buildings for the schools as well as transportation for the students in return for subsidies from the ministry. Additionally, a number of government schools are to be run by the private sector. The report also asked concerned government bodies to upgrade their procedures and regulations to facilitate and encourage investment in private education. In addition, the ministry is to give land designated for schools to the private sector for the purpose of building private schools. The MOE also suggested that the Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs rent out government land or sell them for nominal prices to the private sector to build schools. The report added that the MOE seeks to encourage the private sector to invest in private schools in areas that are not usually considered attractive for investments. The difficulties facing private investors are obtaining the necessary loans and the insufficient subsidies provided to the sector, an average of only SR232 a student.
