A formal education system took shape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia when the General Education Management Center was established in Ramadan, 1344H, which laid out the first plan for a complete educational system. On 27 Muharram, 1346H, an Education Management Committee was formed which established a single system of education, with different educational levels. The first primary curriculum was designed by 1354H. During 1357H a private school system was also formalized. The Ministry of Education was formed in 1373H. The first education minister in the Kingdom was the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Fahd Bin Abd AlAziz. The most significant achievements of the Ministry in its initial days were: 1. Creation of an administration plan for the Ministry of Education. 2. Construction of schools and continually improving the standards of education. 3. Laying the foundations of higher education with the inauguration of the King Saud University in Riyadh Aims: 1. To provide opportunities for education to every citizen of learning age, according to his abilities and inclinations, and to facilitate these opportunities by providing the appropriate infrastructure and services. 2. To design and execute projects that cater to the requirements of the Ministry such as construction of educational buildings, and renovation of existing educational sites, by investing capital sums in the private sector for the implementation of such projects. 3. To improve the curriculum and constantly upgrade the general education system so that it is in accordance with contemporary societal and industry requirements.
