What is your outlook for the education sector in Saudi Arabia?
With the current support of the Minister of Education and under Vision 2030 goals, we are in the trajectory of becoming one of the leading countries in education. The focused ambition of our leadership will lead us to a world-class future. I truly believe that we have the ability to be one of the leading countries in the education sector and that what we achieve will set the standard for many others.
We are seeing a methodical evolution of school premises all over the country – especially smaller ones – where schools that do not follow the set standards are asked to close down. School facilities must be properly equipped for the safety of our beloved learners and to provide leading educational environments.
The Saudi population is growing more aware of the importance of quality education. Hence, we are seeing more international schools come into Saudi Arabia and would be welcomed with open arms. This is part of Vision 2030 which emphasises on embracing global differences from various educational systems.
From my prospective and in-line with the Vision 2030 realisation programme in education, I believe we should concentrate on the following:
- The right to quality education for children for life
- Making teaching a sought-after profession
- Elevating the quality of teachers and teaching methodologies
- Providing an environment that encourages creativity in learning
What is the role of technology in evolving education?
Technology is a tool that can be used in various ways to enhance the learning journey. It is by default part of every industry and education is no different. We are witnessing the evolution of virtual classes, the transformation of school management systems, and the revamping of online learning platforms. More recently, we have seen the evolution of virtual and augmented reality that provides immersive learning opportunities.
Nevertheless, I truly believe that in-person education will continue to be the most effective means of educating our younger learners. Virtual aids will further enhance the learning journey but will not substitute the role of teachers and schools in their learning journeys.
What more needs to be done to encourage women to enter the business world?
Saudi Arabia is now the land of equal opportunities. We can see more businesswomen emerging in all sectors including education. This is a clear objective of Vision 2030 where women empowerment is an essential goal.
I personally encourage our Saudi ladies to invest in the education sector as we need more high-quality schools all over the kingdom. We are a young nation with about 9 million under
the age of 15 years that need many more schools.
Closer proximity of schools to homes is essential for our younger learners. This in turn creates the need for more schools in every neighbourhood so that our dear children are easily able to receive great education without having to worry about transportation. From my experience, investing in education can be quite profitable. However, more importantly, it is noble in nature as we would be active participants in shaping generations to come.
Talk to us about your philanthropic goals.
I have a soft spot for widows and orphans. About 30 percent of the school’s revenue goes to addressing this need. We have a rule in Al Faris International School that inducts any learner that loses their supporting parent to our full scholarship programme.
We have built a social responsibility programme in the school several years ago with the help of the United Nations and UNESCO, as part of our curriculum is to participate in social responsibility activities.
One example is that we send our volunteers from grades 11 and 12 to refugee camps to help in various ways that our avid learners see fit. Where some would teach underprivileged children how to read and write, some would choose to help rebuild houses, and others would help in securing clean water and healthy food, and so on.
This is a life-changing experience where our beloved learners and future leaders would witness, firsthand, how privileged and blessed they are with the luxury they are living in compared to the deprived children of the refugee camps.
How can schools embrace sustainability?
The sustainability of our existence is every person’s responsibility including our learners that are growing to become our future. Hence, we should methodically engrave such crucial matters in them. This is done via parts of the educational curriculum and through extracurricular activities.
Can you explain the process of opening a school in AlUla?
We were fortunate to be chosen as the first international school to open in AlUla after a rigorous selection process. AlUla is being transformed into a city via a multibillion mega project. Our aim is to teach using the international standards of learning while embracing the identity and deep culture of AlUla.
We are operating currently in a renovated school building that would accommodate about 300 learners from nursery to grade six. We are also building a world-class educational facility that would accommodate over 1,200 learners from nursery to grade 12. We are building the school with the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum standards while maintaining the culture and identity of AlUla.
The vision of the Royal Commission of AlUla (RCU) is mind-boggling with its aspirations and meticulous way of managing every aspect of building the city. We are so honoured to be part of this evolution.
What role has Vision 2030 played in the education sector?
Personally, I was content with the one school that my amazing team and I built and evolved over the past 20 years. However, the objectives set by Vision 2030 gave me the sense of responsibility and duty to replicate this achievement in multiple locations and cities. I will continue to invest in education to further enhance our knowledge and build world-class educational standards and facilities.
What personal achievements have you received?
I was fortunate to receive an award in Hong Kong recognising our work on the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) projects in 2019. I was invited in 2019 by UNESCO to speak at the United Nations building in Geneva on our experience with our CAS programme in refugee camps that was well received by the general audience.
In 2021, Al Faris International School was honoured and recognised by the minister of education then, HE Dr. Hamad Al Sheikh, for our learners’ achievement in winning first place in the nationwide TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) exam.