Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said that more than 66 percent of recipients of Saudi Foreign Scholarship Program are studying at the world’s top 50 universities. “This reflects the raising of scholarship standards and achieving higher intellectual and developmental returns,” he said while speaking at the Budget Forum 2026 in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Al-Benyan said that over 100,000 talented students have earned a total of 335 local, regional, and international awards. He affirmed that these results are a source of pride and reflect the strength of the talent identification and nurturing system. “More than SR200 billion has been allocated to general, university, and vocational education in the 2026 budget. Over SR30 billion have been earmarked for new projects to enhance the educational environment, while SR4 billion allocated for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, and more than SR2 billion set aside to strengthen digital infrastructure,” he said.

The minister highlighted the sector’s growing reliance on digital platforms, noting that the Madrasati platform now serves more than seven million beneficiaries. Meanwhile, the National eLearning Platform hosts more than 2,000 local, regional, and international educational entities, benefiting more than two million learners across the public and private sectors.

Al-Benyan said that the allocation for teacher professional development amounted to SR250 million while SR750 million earmarked for developing curricula that include activities and laboratories, considering them a cornerstone of the educational transformation.

He revealed that the education system has achieved significant progress in early childhood education, exceeding 36 percent, emphasizing that this project represents a fundamental pillar for raising the quality of education and developing its future outcomes.

Al-Benyan underscored that investment in education is strategic and will no longer be approached as a traditional service sector. He added that artificial intelligence is set to play a pivotal role in transforming the education system and shaping its future direction.