Private schools also to undergo evaluation

(MENAFN- Arab News) RIYADH: The Public Education Evaluation Commission (PEEC) head said on Wednesday that private schools will undergo performance evaluation in the next two to three weeks by local specialists who have just finished their training under the organization's program.

PEEC Gov. Naif Al-Roomi was speaking on the sidelines of the graduation of the first batch of 91 evaluators (male and female) who will be working independently to assess schools across the country.
Al-Roomi said the move has not only produced local specialists in the field of education evaluation of international standard but has also created job opportunities in the sector. According to him school evaluation will be implemented in phases starting with private schools. Government schools will be the next to come under their scrutiny he added.
'Education in general and public education in particular is the cornerstone of renaissance for national progress' Al-Roomi observed. It is the front face of civilization that reflects the extent of progress and the pursuit of economic transformation through a knowledge-based economy. It is also one of the most important foundations of the national development strategy in the Kingdom he noted.
PEEC is a governmental agency with independent legal status administratively and financially linked directly to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. PEEC works in partnership with international experts from Finland Poland UK the USA and Canada.
'It is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to achieve higher levels of economic development by adopting a knowledge-based society under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman' he added.
According to him Saudi Arabia has achieved great strides toward realizing that vision by developing high-caliber human capital in order to create an environment conducive to the elevation of academic standards.
He said PEEC's objectives are to raise the quality of public education and adequacy and support development of the national economy by improving education outcomes.