Saudi Arabia's educational system is overseen by the Ministry of Education. In Saudi Arabia, both public and private schools are available. The overall curriculum used in Saudi Arabian public schools is primarily taught in Arabic, with a stronger emphasis on Islamic education. In state-run schools, English is taught at the beginning of grade 4. English is taught at private schools beginning in kindergarten. Male and female pupils attend separate classes in Saudi Arabia.
Primary education, which lasts six years and is mandatory in Saudi Arabia, is followed by intermediate and secondary education, which each last three years. In Saudi Arabia, all K-12 educational levels are free.
Six million pupils in Saudi Arabia participated in the country's transition to digital and distance education as a result of the pandemic-related school closures. According to a recent World Bank research titled "Saudi Arabia's Digital and Distance Education," around 98% of students in the Kingdom have access to the "Madrasati" ("My School") platform, a regionally specific learning platform. The academic ability and skills of their students improved, according to more than two-thirds of teachers, during the digital and remote education offered in Saudi Arabia during the 2020-21 academic year, and there is a high desire for further digital learning materials.
Due to factors like the government's Vision 2030 educational initiative (privatization of the industry), the need for general improvement in the quality of education, and an increase in the number of people who prefer private schools that offer value for money, the Saudi Arabian private education market is expected to double in terms of value and experience a higher growth rate over the coming years. The Saudi Arabian private education market is anticipated to see a significant growth, following the adoption of the government's Vision 2030 educational initiative.
KSA Private K12 Education Market Trends
The Introduction of Vision 2030- Education in Saudi Arabia is Driving the Market
British independent schools are becoming in demand in Saudi Arabia. According to the OECD, "Saudi Arabia has started a historic reform initiative known as Vision 2030, to build a vibrant, diverse, and sustainable economy." Saudi Arabia must cultivate a highly trained population to satisfy the demands of a knowledge-based labor market in the twenty-first century, which places education at the core of Vision 2030.Education received the largest allocation from the Saudi government in 2022, at the equivalent of USD 37.5 billion. Saudi Arabia enrolls fewer students in private K-12 institutions than its neighboring nations while having the highest student population in the GCC (about 7 million students). Despite this, the market value of the education sector is anticipated to climb from $4 billion in 2017 to $15 billion by 2030 as a result of the nation's growing population, growth in the number of students attending private schools, and rising tuition costs. With the National Centre for Privatisation seeking to privatize 60 schools in 2021 and increase private enrolment to 25% by 2030, government incentives for international schools are helping the shift to higher-quality private education.
Population Growth Leading to Increased Enrollments in Schools
By 2030, Saudi Arabia's population is projected to increase from 33.4 million to 44.9 million, and the country would require between 1.1 and 2.1 million more student seats. Dubai alone will require 370k private schools by 2030, up from 290k in 2021. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) projects that the population of the Kingdom would increase by 2.5% per year, or 44.9 million, by 2030.By 2030, according to conservative demographic forecasts from the World Bank and BMI, there will be 39.3 million people in the world. According to the SAGIA population growth rate of 2.5% annually, the total number of K12 students in need of enrolment will increase to 8.3 million in 2030 from 6.1 million in 2018, creating a need for 2.1 million more seats throughout the Kingdom. Although the entire demand for K-12 enrolments will increase to 7.2 million in 2030 from 6.1 million in 2018, according to the World Bank's estimate of population growth of 1.37 percent annually, there will be an additional need for 1.1 million new seats in the Kingdom by that year.
Back in 2017, Saudi Arabia completely abolished its restrictions on foreign ownership, allowing foreign investors to fully own all K-12 institutions. The strategy worked because, "many regional, international investors, and operators are actively preparing or entering the K12 market, making the education industry one of Saudi Arabia's major investment areas.
KSA Private K12 Education Market Competitor Analysis
Only a small number of private school brands dominate the market, including American International School, British International School of Jeddah, GEMS Education, Maarif For Education and Training, Kingdom Schools, SABIS Education Services, and Ataa Educational Company. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, these businesses run school networks, and many more are now making investments there. Nine new foreign educational companies received investor licenses from the SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority) in the first half of 2019, totaling USD 141 million. These companies include Niagara College Canada, ACCEL, National Geographic Learning, CareTech Foundation, Intuitive Education, and Education First, among others. In the Kingdom, there is a greater concentration of public schools that follow the Saudi curriculum.Additional Benefits:
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Table of Contents
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- British International School of Jeddah
- GEMS Education
- International Schools Group (ISG)
- Maarif For Education and Training
- Kingdom Schools
- SABIS Education Services
- American International School
- Ataa Educational Company
Methodology
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