About 5,000 students who are currently paying from their own pocket to study overseas will now have their costs covered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The King has issued a directive approving the payment for students at institutes and universities in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. These students will be included under the foreign scholarship program. In a statement to SPA, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al-Anqari welcomed the King's decision as move to boost education. Dr. Muhammad Al-Eisa, the Saudi Cultural Attache in the US informed Okaz that the order covers 3,000 male and female students studying in the US. In a telephonic interview, he added that the royal order stipulates that all Saudi students at institutes or universities will be added to the scholarship program without being restricted to a certain category. “The royal order will cover all Saudi students studying at their own expense and the papers for them to join the scholarship program will be sent as of today [Wednesday].” It is expected that a total of 5,000 male and female students studying in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will benefit from the decision. In another development, the Minister of Higher Education is to hold discussions with officials in Australia and New Zealand about the situation of Saudi scholarship students. He is also expected to sign memorandums of understanding for cooperation and scientific research between the Kingdom and these countries. The visit will cover three Australian cities – Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne – followed by a visit to New Zealand.
