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Early Childhood Education in Saudi Arabia: Report

Article in World Journal of Education · September 2016

DOI: 10.5430/wje.v6n5p1

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Early Childhood Education in Saudi Arabia: Report

Alqassem Rabaah1,*, Dashash Doaa1 & Alzahrani Asma1

1
Education College and Human Development, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
*Correspondence: Education College and Human Development, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA. Tel:
571-278-119. E-mail: rabaahalqassem@gmail.com

Received: August 24, 2016 Accepted: September 2, 2016 Online Published: September 22, 2016
doi:10.5430/wje.v6n5p1 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/wje.v6n5p1

Abstract
This paper reviewed the development of early childhood education (ECE) in Saudi Arabia and its strengths and
weaknesses. The paper discusses the contextual background of Saudi Arabia, including its geography, demographics,
social system, economy, political system and religion. In addition, the paper investigated the education system at
large in Saudi Arabia, including its development, objectives, enrollment and challenges.
Keywords: Saudi Arabian early childhood education; Saudi Arabian education system; Saudi Arabia education
challenges; early childhood Saudi curriculum; early childhood Saudi teacher preparation

1. Introduction and the Purpose of the Paper

Early childhood education is a fundamental component of the education system in Saudi Arabia. The idea of
kindergarten education in Saudi Arabia was introduced in 1974 with the establishment of preschool and kindergarten
classes in 1975 (Aljabreen and Lash, 2016). A successful governmental pre-kindergarten and kindergarten in Makkah
consisting of ten classrooms and seventeen workers, of which fourteen were teachers, led to formal introduction of
pre-kindergarten and kindergarten into the countrywide school program. These numbers increased to 182,556
students, 22,189 teachers, and 2,559 schools in 2013-2014 (King Khalid Database, 2015). These numbers underscore
the importance that Saudi parents attach to early childhood education and its role in the overall education program of
Saudi children.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of early childhood education in Saudi Arabia — its strengths
and weaknesses and how it can be expanded and the quality improved in order to benefit all children of Saudi Arabia.
To explore the subject in depth, this paper will first discuss the contextual background of Saudi Arabia, including its
geography, demographics, social system, economy, political system and religion. Then, the paper will explain the
education system at large in Saudi Arabia, including its development, objectives, enrollment and challenges. Finally,
there will be information on Saudi Arabia’s early childhood education programs, including access and the various
programs offered
1.1 Geography
Saudi Arabia is a large country that takes up four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula, covering 2,150,000 square
kilometers of land. Saudi Arabia is surrounded by the Red Sea, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain,
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2016). The landscape of Saudi
Arabia is very diverse due to its large size, and the landscape includes deserts, grasslands, mountains, forests, and
coastline near the sea. Saudi Arabia experiences two seasons: winter and summer. In the winter, it is very cold;
temperatures in the north and central parts of the country can drop below freezing. In the summer, it can reach over
110 degrees Fahrenheit, and rain is scarce (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2016).
Saudi Arabia’s education system schedules the school day in response to the climate (Algamdi & Nooraldeen, 2002).
Due to the fact that temperatures climb during the middle of the day and early afternoon, many Saudi Arabian
schools begin early so they can let out before the extreme heat begins.
1.2 Demography
Saudi Arabia’s 2010 census recorded about 29,195,895 million people, a majority of which are young adults

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(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2016). In fact, 67.1% of the population is under 30 years old (Oxford Business Group,
2007). At the end of 2015 the General Authority for Statistics Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reported a population of
about 31,015,999 with a growth rate of 2.11% (General Authority for Statistics, 2016).
The predominant and official language of Saudi Arabia is Arabic. According to Algamdi & Nooraldeen (2002), the
national education system in Saudi Arabia works hard to prioritize teaching Arabic in every grade. The Saudi Arabian
education system also tries to improve students’ Arabic across the curriculum because it is the official language of
the country.
1.3 Social System
There have been many social changes that have shaped the social structure in Saudi Arabia. According to Gahwaji
(2013), “The rise of individual/family incomes has affected the lifestyle of many Saudi families, particularly the
middle and upper classes” (p. 336). One component that led to this rise in family incomes is the growing trend of
Saudi Arabians working. Once the education system allowed women in the country to be educated, they began to
enter the workforce. Because of this increase in women working, many families need someone to watch their
children, and this has boosted the need for nannies and caregivers. Many of the maids, nannies and caregivers
employed in Saudi Arabia are from foreign countries, such as the Philippines, Indonesia, India and Ethiopia.
The growth in income and the rise of women working has also changed the family dynamic: there is a move toward
only nuclear families living together, versus an extended family structure cohabitating. According to Al-Sunbul,
Al-Khateeb, Metwali, and Nour-Deen (2004), families in Saudi Arabia are growing smaller and becoming
independent, distancing themselves from their broader extended family network. Smaller families and a growing
female presence in the workplace has impacted childhood education policy and opportunity because children are
more likely to be placed in child care and education programs or preschool centers (Gahwaji, 2013).
1.4 Economy
The predominant industry in Saudi Arabia is oil, which has transformed the nation’s economy. Oil revenues allowed
for rapid development in different aspects of daily life, and social changes followed economic growth (Gahwaji,
2013). According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2010), Saudi Arabia has a free market economy, with the private
sector accounting for 25% of the country’s GDP. However, the government plays a large role in the country’s
economic system, where they create economic and social development plans and oversee individual industry’s
ministries (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2010).
Just as women entering the workforce impacted Saudi Arabia’s social structure, it also impacted the economic system.
According to Gahwaji (2013), an additional reason why many women in Saudi Arabia must work is because of
changes in their lifestyle and the cost of a household, which have pushed women to earn an income. Higher instances
of divorce and women being widowed are other economic motivators for women to enter the workplace, leading to
more children being placed in the education system and increasing its significance in Saudi society.
The economic system in Saudi Arabia supports a large investment in education. Because of the country’s wealth, it is
able to invest more into their national education system. This can be seen in the amount the country spends in each
year’s budget on education expenses, including books, infrastructure and programs, as well as teacher salaries, which
are high when compared to other countries like the United States. According to the U. S. – Saudi Arabian Business
Council (2015), the Saudi Arabian government spent $56 billion on education in 2014.
1.5 Political System
The current political system in Saudi Arabia was established in 1932 by the late King Abdul-Aziz bin Abdul-Rahman
Al Saud (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2013). The political system is a hereditary monarchy that is run by the king.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2013), the king acts as the Prime Minister, Chief of State, and the head
of government in Saudi Arabia. The crown prince is second in line to the throne, and the king appoints a crown
prince to help him with his duties. The current king is very supportive of education and allows the government to
invest heavily in education. Members of the Council of Ministers also assist the king in the performance of his duties.
The Council of Ministers, also called the Cabinet, is comprised of 22 government ministries. These ministries
specialize in different aspects of the government, such as foreign affairs, education and finance. This means that
there is an entire ministry devoted to promoting the interests and needs of educators and students. There are no
elections for political offices in Saudi Arabia, as it is a monarchy.
1.6 Religion and Philosophy
In order to fully understand Saudi Arabian education, it is important to acknowledge how deeply the national religion

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of Islam is embedded in the culture and social structure. The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and the religion’s holy
city, Mecca, is located in Saudi Arabia. According to Prokop (2003), Islam continues to be the main legitimating
source for the al-Saud family, and religious education is emphasized at all levels in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Educational policy in Saudi Arabia, the objectives of education are as follows: understanding Islam
correctly and completely, implanting and spreading the Islamic doctrine, providing students with Islamic values and
instructions, acquiring knowledge along with different skills, developing constructive behavioral tendencies;
advancing society economically, socially, culturally, and enabling students to become useful in the construction of
their society (Educational policy article 28, Ministry of Education, 1976, cited in Gahwaji, 2013, p. 335).
The government has made concessions to the religious authorities in the fields of culture, curriculum development,
and control over the educational apparatus. For example, the way history is taught in Saudi schools reflects the
government’s aim of unifying the population and creating a common Saudi identity. The government is becoming
more aware of the effects of what is taught in Saudi schools. Thus, the government works to remove what it deems to
be objectionable messages. It also makes attempts to change teaching methods, introduce modern technology, reduce
rote learning, and encourage analytical thinking. Therefore, the Saudi foreign minister concluded that the education
system in Saudi Arabia could not be considered a breeder of terrorism. Indeed, Saudi educational policy holds their
students to the following criteria: “1) Representing praiseworthy Islamic morals in oneself and with others, 2)
positive interaction with other cultures, 3) and wise and honest interaction with others” (Alshaer, 2008, p. 4).
Many of the educational goals in Saudi Arabia are based on the words of the Quran and the Sunnah, the writings of
the prophet Mohammad (Al-Sunbul et al., 2004). Another important component of Islam that is embedded in the
Saudi Arabian education system is the idea that there should be equal opportunity in life for both genders. This has
led to strong social support for women’s education since the 1960s, when education became a national priority
(Gahwaji, 2013).
1.7 Education System
Springsteen (2014) indicates that the education system in Saudi Arabia formally began in 1932. By 1945, the
country’s founder, King Abdul-Aziz bins Abdulrahman Al-Saud, mandated the government to establish schools in the
kingdom. At that time, education was available to very few people, mainly the male children of wealthy families.
Education was available only for boys; it was nonexistent for girls until 1964, when the first school for girls was built.
By the end of the 1990s, girls’ schools had been established in every part of the kingdom. Now, girls’ schools exist
around the country, and schools continue to be segregated by gender (Springsteen, 2014). The separation of the
genders in schools is a social and religious issue, as the teachings of Islam mandate that the genders be separated in
environments like schools (Alromi, 2000, p. 10). In all Saudi schools, for girls and boys, educational policy is
implemented to ensure that education becomes more efficient to meet the religious, economic and social needs of the
country and to eradicate illiteracy among Saudi adults (Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, 2013).
The Ministry of Education sets overall standards for Saudi Arabia’s educational system – public and private – and
also oversees special education (Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission, 2013). They provide schools for blind, deaf, and
developmentally disabled students, as well as those needing physical therapy and training. Almost 96% of students
with multiple and severe disabilities, such as those with severe autism, are currently taught in private special
education institutions. Students with mild and moderate cognitive disabilities receive their education in an inclusive
setting in public schools (Alquraini, 2010).
In addition, the U. S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council (2009) illustrates that the education system in Saudi Arabia
can be divided into two broad categories: general education and higher education. All public and private schools
follow the same general policies, curricula, and methods of instruction. The curriculum has a heavy emphasis on
Arabic and Islamic studies, but other subjects, such as math, history, and geography, are also taught along with
English. General education consists of:
 Pre-primary education
o Duration (ages 3 to 5)
 In 2008, the total enrollment ratio was estimated around 11%. In 2009/10, 106,301
children were enrolled within a total of 1,521 kindergartens (UNESCO,
2010-2011).
 Primary School
o Duration: Six years (ages 6 to 12)

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 In 2009/10, the total enrollment in all primary schools was 2,493,125 students.
From that total, 1,227,699 were girls (UNESCO, 2010-2011).
 Intermediate School
o Duration: Three years (ages 12 to 15)
 In 2009/10, there were a total of 1,188,342 students enrolled. Of that number,
553,415 were girls (UNESCO, 2010-2011).
 General Secondary School
o Duration: Three years (ages 15 to 18)
 “In 2009/10, there were 4,909 secondary schools, of which 2,440 for girls and 2,469
for boys. The total enrollment was 1,096,174 students, of whom 490,122 were girls”
(UNESCO, 2010-2011, P.12).
 University and college
o Duration: Four years (ages 19 to 22) (U. S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council, 2009).
 In 2015, there were one million students enrolled in Saudi universities and colleges,
compared to only 7,000 in 1970 (Saudi Arabia Embassy, 2016).
“Today, Saudi Arabia’s education system includes 25 publics and 27 private universities, with more planned; some
30,000 schools; and a large number of colleges and other institutions” (Saudi Arabia Embassy, 2016). The
government grants monthly allowances of approximately $200 for all university students as a way to incentivize
people to get their undergraduate degrees. The U. S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council (2009) indicates that the
system is open to all citizens and provides free education in all phases in public institutions, including higher
education, to all residents and citizens. The state provides books and educational means. It also prepares, trains, and
qualifies teachers, pays salaries, promotes teachers, dispatches internal and external exchange students, organizes
cultural exchanges with other countries, and defines the quality of education. In addition, the state encourages its
young Saudi population to continue their education internationally, in nations all around the world, by providing free
scholarships. This is done to allow Saudi students to gain new experiences and learn about new ideas that they can
use when they return to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is ranked first among Middle Eastern countries in the number of
students studying in the U.S. (U. S. – Saudi Arabian Business Council, 2009).
1.8 Challenges in the Education System
Howell (2014) indicates that the most difficult of the domestic challenges facing Saudi Arabia lays in the
shortcomings of its education system. According to Howell (2014), despite billions of dollars being invested, the
quality of teachers remains problematic. Saudi nationals lose higher-paying job opportunities to better educated and
more qualified foreign workers. Additionally, in the period between 2008 and 2012, Saudi Arabia had a very high
literacy rate for people in the 15–24-year age group: 99% for males and 97% for females. Despite this high literacy
rate, the lack of available jobs contributes to a general sense of disillusionment about obtaining an education. Also,
the best schools in Saudi Arabia are private institutions that charge higher fees, leading to accusations against the
government that only the rich can afford a quality education. Thus, the disparity in Saudi Arabia between the public
and private sectors appears to be particularly pronounced. Public schools rely heavily on rote learning and
memorization, and do not offer additional subjects such as theatre and art. By comparison, private schools favor a
teaching style in which critical thinking is encouraged, and European and North American curricula are followed.
These factors support the complaints of some Saudi citizens that they are educationally disadvantaged (Howell,
2014).

2. Early Childhood Education in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Education emerged during the establishment of the modern country. Girls’ education started in
Saudi Arabia in 1964 (Al-Otaibi & Al- Swailm 2002). However, the idea of kindergarten had never been introduced
before 1974. Consequently, the need for early childhood care and education programs increased, resulting in the
establishment of the first preschool and kindergarten classes starting in 1975, with classes that were attached to
general education schools (Aljabreen & Lash, 2016).
Due to the success of the governmental pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program opened in Makkah with ten
classrooms and seventeen workers in 1975, the government decided to improve the idea of kindergarten schools

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ournal of Educattion Vol. 6, No. 5; 2016

(Aljabreen & Lash, 2016). As shown in n Table 1, 19 pre-kindergarte

p en and kindergaarten schools wwere opened inn 1980,
and they were
w attended by y 2,000 childreen and 166 teacchers and otherr non-teachingg staff. Moreovver, in 2013-2014, the
number off children at prre-kindergartenn and kindergaarten schools hhas increased tto 182,556 witth 22,189 teachhers in
2559 schoools that are sup
pervised by diffferent agents in
n the country (K
King Khalid DDatabase, 2015)).

Table 1. Th
he Growth of Pre-Schools
P an
nd Kindergarten
ns in Saudi Araabia
Year Nu
umber of Pre-K
K/K Number of kids Number of teeachers Stu
udent: teacherr
1975 1 200 14 14.33:1
1980 19 2067 166 12.55:1
2013-2
2014 2559 182,556 22,819 8:1

According to the Alshehrri (2014), theree are 1,385 pubblic pre-kinderrgarten and kinndergarten schoools administraated by
the Ministrry of Education. However, although
a the prrivate sector ruuns only 942 sschools, they hhave more classses as
well as hiigher enrollmeent. In additio on, the Ministtry of Social Affairs has 2232 schools, which means 2,559
pre-kinderg
garten and kinddergarten schoools in all Saudii Arabia (see F
Figure 1).

Figuree 1. Number off Pre-Kindergaarten and Kindeergarten Schoools in 2013-20114

According to Andrews an nd Slate (20022), the kinderg

garten educatioon system is wwell known for lowering the ccost of
education since
s it dispensses programs and
a lessons, wh hich relay and reduce the retuurn-rate grade and reduce droopouts.
Therefore, the 2015-2020 strategic plaans of Saudi Arabia
A supportt increasing thhe number of ppre-kindergarteen and
kindergarteen schools with h a goal of 3000 schools a yeear and a totall of 1500 schoools in 5 years. However, thee early
childhood education enro ollment ratio inn Saudi Arabiaa, which is esttimated betweeen 10-12%, is still considereed very
low when compared to other o countriess in world (Qaasabi, 2012). T
Therefore, Thee Ministry of B Budget has appproved
funds to seeek increases inn the number ofo kindergartens annually as wwell as providiing funds for private sectors aas well
w no interestt in service of developing more
as loans with m pre-kinderrgarten and kinndergarten schhools. This opeeration
works hand d-in-hand withh the five-year plan and the draft
d National Strategy for deevelopment off public educattion. In
addition, itt will support private-sectorr initiatives, which
w include the company for academicc education seervices’
initiative in
n cooperation with
w the Saudi Credit Bank to support inveestors by providding them withh the necessaryy loans
(Ministry ofo Education, 2015).
2
pment of ECE Curriculum an
2.1 Develop nd Approachess
The develoopment of currriculum and ap pproaches in early
e childhoodd education weent through m many stages. Thhe first
stage was the traditional approach takeen in 1952, whhen early childdhood educatioon was comprrised of indepeendent,
individual practices
p (Alom
mar, 2013). Thhis method dep
pends on its conntent across a rrange of bookss and courses ssuch as
reading, wrriting, mathem
matics and scien
nce.

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The second stage was the project approach, which began in 1975. This approach was not significantly different from
the traditional approach, especially in focusing on the education of the child to read and write (Alomar, 2013).
Finally, the third stage was the implementation of the self-learning curriculum approach, which was introduced in
1986 (Alomar, 2013). Official efforts began with the General Presidency for Girls' Education, as well as the regional
organization (AGFUND) and the international organization (UNESCO) (Alshaer, 2008). It is important to have an
integrated and comprehensive source for kindergarten teachers in the kingdom because such a source contains a
multitude of technical information that helps teachers take into account the growth of the phase characteristics and
needs. The three stages represent the pedagogical movement from teacher-centered towards learner-centered
frameworks.
The kindergarten self-learning advanced curriculum is made of different educational units such as the water, the
sands, my health and safety, and so on. Each unit lasts 2-4 weeks and presents theme-related experiences throughout
the daily schedule. The schedule components include circle time, play-based centers, indoor or outdoor playing, and
snack time. Features of the self-learning advanced curriculum include the following:
 Activity self-adopted curriculum expertise, designed to move and play, offering freedom and independence,
research and discovery, to achieve the principle of learning to learn.
 Activity self-centered approach, where the child is heading the learning process of the child inside to the
outside, to be achieved using interaction between the four elements of the child, the direct and indirect
experience, and the environment.
 A comprehensive and balanced approach, which offers activities to meet the needs of the child's physical,
mental, and social mobility in the context of integration and interdependence to achieve the unity of
knowledge and balance performance (Alomar, 2013).
2.2 ECE Goals in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is governed by a number of policies regarding education, which include aims for Early Childhood
Education. Additionally, such goals aim to expose children to the school atmosphere rather than only experiencing
the conditions within the home compound (Aljabreen & Lash, 2016; Ministry of Education, 2004). Schools are
typically identified as one of the best areas where children can grow with very high discipline and rigor, hence
preparing them for life. School environments also drive children to form relations with social peers.
2.3 Curriculums of ECE Programs
A timetable and program were developed to support the development of curriculum, which could affect the gradual
expansion of education for the better in the establishment of kindergarten over the private home. To achieve these
goals, construction of classrooms and effective curriculum for kindergarten was necessary to provide maximum
learning. The early childhood education curriculum was featured prominently in a Royal Decree, which was
introduced in 1988 with the cooperation of the General Presidency for Girls' Education, which is the highest
authority that supervises women's education in Saudi Arabia, the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations
Development Organization (AGFUND), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), regarding concerted efforts to promote childhood through the preparation of curriculum for kindergarten
and all materials required for teaching aids (Alshaer, 2008). Development of the kindergarten curriculum was
accompanied by the establishment of four centers for the training of the national cadres.
2.4 Special Education Services for ECE
Special education in Saudi Arabia started through individual efforts. Communities cooperated and came up with the
idea that children with disabilities should also engage in studies, since it is the right of each child to have education.
This led to the construction of schools for such children. The education integration efforts in the kingdom of Saudi
Arabia involved either the total integration method or partial integration. Total integration was achieved through the
introduction of special education classes attached to regular school programs. It was carried out through the use of
modern educational methods such as resource room programs, counselor and teacher programs, and follow-up
programs in special education. (Hamdan, 2005)
2.5 ECE Teacher Preparation and Professional Development
Several studies propose that pre-kindergarten and kindergarten teachers who hold a degree or equivalent in early
childhood education are more involved with kids as well as more knowledgeable when compared with those who
does not have such credentials (Sylva et al., 2003).

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Through the years, early childhood education preparation transformed from teacher education institutes to the
universities that prepare general pre-school teachers as well as special education teachers. According to the Saudi
Al-Jadidi (2012), seventeen of the twenty-four public universities offer bachelor degrees in early childhood
education, which takes care of preparing early childhood education teachers. However, there are at least four training
centers attached to and administered by the Ministry of Education for the purpose of in-service teaching. These
centers offer continuous early childhood professional development programs for teachers.

3. Conclusion
This paper reviewed the development of early childhood education (ECE) in Saudi Arabia and its strengths and
weaknesses. The paper concludes that since its introduction, ECE in Saudi Arabia has grown dramatically in terms of
student enrollment and governmental support as well as in quality as it shifts from rote, teacher-centered learning to
independent student-centered learning with a more nuanced curriculum. The Saudi government continues to invest in
education by increasing funding for school development as well as by investing specifically in teacher training and
education with a clear belief that ECE is crucial to the country’s educational objectives.
However, there is a lack of updated information about early childhood education in Saudi Arabia. The most recent
statistics found were for the 2013-14 school year, which do not provide researchers with the most recent information.
In addition, there are few studies that have looked at the ECE in KSA, and most are conducted in the Arabic
language, making international comparisons difficult. Over the course of preparing this report, it was difficult to find
up-to-date statistics and references that were relevant and appropriate. More research needs to be done in the future
on ECE in Saudi Arabia to provide information for researchers and teachers.

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Published by Sciedu Press 8 ISSN 1925-0746 E-ISSN 1925-0754

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