RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan has emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting sustainability in education and investment in skills, innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve a sustainable future for citizens and enhance global competitiveness for future generations.
Al-Benyan was speaking during the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Fortaleza in Brazil, where he emphasized the Kingdom’s support of the goals and priorities of the Education Working Group.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between schools and communities to provide students with experiences and resources that enhance the importance of learning for them.
Al-Benyan said that the engagement of educational institutions with the community enabled educators to meet the diverse needs of students and their families, promote inclusivity, and help students to develop into active citizens.
“School-community engagement in Saudi Arabia constitutes a fundamental element of our national strategy, as the Kingdom’s educational institutions understand the importance of connecting with the community — not just as recipients of volunteer efforts but also as active participants in societal development,” he said.
The Saudi Ministry of Education has established a department dedicated to community responsibility and volunteer work, focusing on integrating sustainable development goals into education and creating initiatives that address local needs.
Al-Benyan said that a new school evaluation index had been developed to assess community engagement effectively, with Vision 2030 setting ambitious targets for the non-profit sector, aiming to reach 10,000 community organizations, contribute more than 5 percent of GDP, and engage one million volunteers.
He added that the Kingdom had seen a more than 150 percent increase in educational non-profit organizations in 2024.
Al-Benyan also discussed two flagship projects aimed at supporting teachers — the National Institute for Professional Education Development and the Teachers Fund. The institute is focused on four key areas: teacher preparation, teacher development, leadership nurturing, and teacher advocacy.
He called for collaborative efforts to develop a new global perspective that ensured a just and sustainable future for all citizens.
