Education, Health, Youth Welfare, Social Services and Justice

Abstract

With the exception of the last twenty-five years, education in Saudi Arabia has concentrated almost entirely upon teaching the Muslim religion to the young male members of the population. With the expansion of educational facilities during the last decade the teaching of Islam has remained the focal point of the educational system. The education policy document published in 1970 stated that the basis of policy was the ‘duty of acquainting the individual with his God and religion and adjusting his conduct in accordance with the teaching of religion, the fulfilment of the need of society and in achievement of the nation’s objectives’.¹ There have been two fundamental developments in the last fifteen years: a widening of education to include females, although maintaining a strict segregation of the sexes; and the utilisation of the educational system to overcome manpower problems associated with economic development.