March 25, 2005

SYSTEMATIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES FIRST PIONEER OF EDUCATION AND THE CONTINUOUS CARE FOR THIS SECTOR. IMPORTANT PROGRESS IN THE INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE SECTORS. The true wealth of any nation is its people, for it is their ability to manage the country's existing resources and to identify and develop new ones, which determines the prosperity of the economy and the health of society for present and future generations. Mindful of the need to ensure that the Kingdom's population should be equal to the challenges of the developmental process, the government has devoted vast resources to a program covering primary, secondary and higher levels of education. All the Kingdom's Development Plans have taken into account the educational aspirations of the Saudi people, providing free education to all. The educational system has been continuously and systematically expanded to accommodate the ever-growing demand for educational services. Through this investment, the Kingdom has been able to guarantee equality of opportunity for all and to ensure that the Kingdom's need for an educated and trained national workforce to carry forward the Kingdom's future development can be fulfilled. Saudi officials have been keen on developing the Kingdom's human resources because they believe that human resources constitute the real wealth of the country. In Saudi Arabia, there are now 11 universities with 120 colleges, 191,000 students and 11,000 members of the academic staff. However, the number of the colleges at the level of bachelors degree or under graduate level totaled 317 during the academic year of 1422H -1423H. The students of these colleges amounted to more than 455,000 during the same academic year. The number of colleges of education and higher education ministries amounted to 102 with an enrolment of 182,000 students. The number of students at various stages of the general education of the Ministry of Education during the academic year 1423H-1424H amounted to 2,539,188. These students are pursuing their academic studies in 14, 600 schools and they are assisted in their educational pursuit by more than 196,000 teachers. The number of the health units of the schools of the Education Ministry amounted to 107 including 43 major units in some big cities. On the other hand, the Ministry of Education has been giving utmost attention to the schools of the Holy Quran Memorization. The first Holy Quran Memorization school was established in Madinah in 1367H, but during the academic year 1424H-1425H the number of these schools jumped to 628 with 68,638 students and 6,321 teachers. As regards the illiteracy eradication schools, their number in the academic year 1424H-1425H, amounted to 1,110 with 28,000 students. Meanwhile, the number of the schools allocated for the disabled children amounted to 494 in the academic year 1424H-1425H, with 12, 843 students and 3, 370 teachers. The number of the female students amounted to 2,000,311 in the academic year of 1423-1424 H. They were pursuing their studies in 15, 800 schools, which are staffed by more than 219,470 female teachers and more than 14,500 female administrators. The number of the primary schools amounted to 6, 670 with 1,176,690 female students and more than 107,889 female teachers. The number of the intermediate schools amounted to 3,127 with more than 548, 483 female students and 50,013 female teachers. As regards the secondary schools, their number amounted to 1, 981 with 463, 526 female students and 36, 176 female teachers. The secondary institutes for female teachers in the academic year 1423-1424 amounted to 78 with 6045 female students, while the number of the institutes of the special education amounted to 85 with 5, 044 female students. Meanwhile, the number of the Holy Quran memorization schools amounted at the end of the academic year 1424-1425H to 677 with 76, 787 female students and 7, 437 female teachers. When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, the opportunities for education were not widely available, being limited in the main to religious and basic literacy teaching in mosques. In the 1930s, King Abdul Aziz initiated a program of formal primary education in the Kingdom. This program was given added impetus in 1949-1950 (1369-1370 AH) with the personal support of the then Prince Faisal and the encouragement of Prince Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz - who later became Minister of Education and President of the Saudi Higher Council of Education, the highest educational authority in the Kingdom, and is now the King. The Ministry of Education, with the then Prince Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz at its head, was founded in 1954. In the Kingdom, there are four levels of education below higher education. First, there is the pre-school level, which is a small sector of educational activity, currently confined mainly to cities and towns. Secondly, there is the elementary level, which caters for the educational needs of children from the age of 6 to 12. Thirdly, there is the intermediate level, which caters for children from 12 to 15. and, fourthly, there is the secondary level, which caters for children from 15 to 18 and prepares those who are to take their education further for higher education. Primary and secondary education is largely the responsibility of the Ministry of Education which caters for male pupils and the General Presidency for Girls' Education. (Although there is a private educational sector, the vast majority of children are educated through the state system.) At every level of education, the numbers of pupils has increased year by year. It is also worth emphasizing the number of girls who are now given the benefits of education at both primary and secondary level, an essential component of the Kingdom's policy of ensuring that the entire population is literate and numerate. The Kingdom now has eight major universities: The King Saud University was founded in 1957 (1376/77 AH) as the Riyadh University and renamed in 1982 (1402/03 AH), had more than 2,600 teachers and more than 45,000 students in 2000/2001. As one of the first institutions of higher education in Saudi Arabia, it has on its register more than a quarter of all the Kingdom's university level students (male and female) and more than one-third of all the Kingdom's university and administrative staff. There are Colleges of Administrative Sciences, Agriculture, Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (in Al-Qasim), Architecture & Planning, Arts, Computer Sciences, Dentistry, Economics and Administration (in Al-Qasim), Education (also in Abha), Engineering, Languages & Translation, Medicine (also in Abha and Al-Qasim), Applied Medical Sciences, Pharmacy and Science. There is also a College for Graduate Studies, a Center for Women's University Studies and an Arabic Language Institute, a Center for Continuing Education and an Institute of Languages. The King Saud University admits women. As early as 1961-1962 (1381-1382 AH) women were allowed to enrol as external students in the Colleges of Arts and Administrative Sciences. In 1975-1976 (1395-1396 AH), they were accepted as full-time students. The Center for Women's University Studies was established a year later, to provide a center for the development and supervision of all aspects of women's higher education. Women students now pursue their studies in a wide range of subjects including Arabic language, English language, geography, history, sociology and social work. The Islamic University founded in 1961 (1380/81 AH), had 421 teachers and more than 2,000 students in 2000/2001. The University has Faculties of Islamic Law (Shari'ah), the Holy Qur'an and Islamic Studies, Da'wa and Usul Al-Din, Islamic Traditions (Hadith), Arabic Language and Islamic Preaching. The Islamic University in Madinah is analogous to the Al-Azhar University of Cairo. It is essentially a school of Islamic theology. While, in recent years, the Al-Azhar of Cairo has expanded its field to secular programs of study such as medicine and engineering, the Islamic University in Madinah continues to focus all its resources on religious affairs. Saudi students constitute almost 80% of the total enrollment. Foreign students have come to the Islamic University from more than 70 countries. The King Abdul Aziz University was founded in 1967 (1386/87 AH), had 2,032 teachers and more than 37,000 students in 2000/2001. Established initially as a private university, King Abdul Aziz University was converted to a state university in 1971 (1390/91 AH). It has the following Faculties: Arts and Humanities, Dentistry, Economics and Administration, Education (in Madinah), Engineering, Geology, Marine Sciences, Medicine, Meteorology, and Science. The University awards Master's degrees in Economics and Administration, Education, Geology, Humanities, Marine Sciences, Meteorology and the Environment, and Sciences. It awards Doctorates in Earth Sciences and Education. The Research and Development Center (which forms part of the Faculty of Economics and Administration), the International Center for Research in Islamic Economics and the King Fahd Medical Research Center (all in Jiddah) are attached to the King Abdul Aziz University. The Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University was founded in 1953 (1372/73 AH) and accorded university status in 1974 (1394 AH), had more than 1,300 teachers and more than 23,000 students in 2000/20001. The total number of female students registered in 2000/2001 (1421/22 AH) was 643. The Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University is an international educational and cultural institution. It was formally inaugurated by Royal Decree in 1974 (1394 AH). Currently the University is composed of several faculties. The High Judiciary Institute was originally established in 1965 (1384/85 AH) for the purpose of graduating qualified Shari'ah judges. The Faculty of Shari'ah (theology) was established earlier in 1953 (1373 AH) for the purpose of meeting the demand for qualified Ulema and preachers throughout the country. The Faculty of Arabic Language and Social Science was originally established as the Faculty of Social Science in 1970 (1390 AH) and was expanded in 1974 (1394 AH) by adding an Arabic language major and a program in library science. The King Faisal University in Dammam and Hofuf founded in 1975 (1395 AH), had some 700 teachers. The total student enrollment in 2000/2001 was was 11,036. The idea of establishing a university in the eastern region was originated by the late King Faisal in 1974 (1394 AH). The then Crown Prince Fahd's efforts brought into existence the King Faisal University, which was inaugurated during the academic year 1975-1976 (1395-1396 AH) with two campuses. The first campus is in Hofuf in Al-Hasa and it comprises the Faculties of Agriculture, and Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources. The second campus is located in Dammam and consists of the Faculties of Medicine and Medical Sciences (established with the educational co-operation of Harvard University) and of Engineering. The campus at Al-Hasa now also caters for female students of home economics, medicine and dentistry. One of the main objectives of the University is to modernize teaching methods. It is also committed to the development of study plans to serve the requirements of the local environment. In this context, the University offers consultancy, guidance and training programs for several bodies in the field of community service. The Community Service Center in the University encourages teaching staff to develop technical skills (in agriculture, commerce, education and engineering) to meet requirements at local community level. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran, founded in 1963 (1382/83 AH) and given university status in 1975 (1395 AH) The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals was founded in 1963 (1382/83 AH) under the name of the College of Petroleum and Minerals with fewer than 100 students. In 1964 (1383/84 AH), the University decided to admit other Arab and Muslim students along with Saudi students. The College was officially inaugurated in 1965 (1384/85 AH) by the late King Faisal who, on that occasion, declared that "it is a great pleasure for us to take part in inaugurating this great institution, of which the least that can be said is that it represents one of the pillars of our scientific, economic and industrial development". By 1974 (1394 AH), student enrollment had increased to 1,500 and it was accorded university status in 1975 (1395 AH). In December 1986 (1407 AH), the University became the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. In 2000/2001 the University had 680 teachers and 5,739 students. The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals can now claim to be a university with internationally acknowledged and respected standards of academic and technical excellence in the fields of petroleum and mineral technology. The Umm Al-Qura University was founded in 1979 (1399/1400 AH) and accorded university status in 1981-1982 (1401-1402 AH), had on its register more than 20,000 students in the year 2000/2001, of whom more than 8,000 were female. Originally, this institution included Colleges of Shari'ah and Education and an institute to teach Arabic language to non-Arabs, all of which functioned as branches of the King Abdul Aziz University. Later Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Arabic Language, Applied Sciences and Engineering, Da'wa and Usul El-Din, Education (in Taif) and Social Sciences were opened. A number of scientific centers are affiliated to the colleges of this University (for example, the Educational and Psychological Research Center, the Hajj Research Center, the International Center for Islamic Education, the Scientific and Engineering Research Center and the Scientific Research and Islamic Heritage Rejuvenation Center). In addition, the Umm Al-Qura University co-operates with a number of foreign universities and other academic institutions through scientific exchange and scholarships. The King Khalid University began its life in the form of branches of King Saud University and Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Abha, in the Asir region. . In 1998 it was accorded university status. In 2000/2001, some 10,000 students studied in the University's five faculties of Education, Medicine, Islamic Law and Fundamentals of Religion and Arabic and Administrative Studies. The Saudi Arabian National Center for Science and Technology was founded in 1977 by Royal Decree, with the aim of harnessing science and technology for the developmental needs of the Kingdom. Its objectives included applied research, management of manpower engaged in science and technology, evolving national scientific policy, awarding scholarships and grants, and co-ordinating work of Government and other institutions. In 1985 it was renamed as King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology. KACST is the Kingdom's principal agency for promoting scientific and technological research and development. The Fifth Development Plan (1410-1415 AH: 1990-1995) required the Kingdom's industry in both the public and private sector to concentrate on improving efficiency and competitiveness. In achieving these goals, the application of the latest scientific developments and the most advanced technology clearly had a major role. In another sector Saudi Arabia's 3, 657 productive factories employ 340,000 people, reflecting the Kingdom's continuing leap forward in the process of its industrial development and provision of employment to its national manpower. Up to the end of the first quarter of this year (1425 H), a huge amount of SR 256 billions were invested in these factories. These factories are engaged in production of chemical and plastic products as well as ceramics, building materials, textiles, ready-made garments, metals, equipment and foodstuffs. The number of the licensed commercial bodies reached 543,000 in 1423H in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to a report of the ministry of commerce and industry. On the other hand, the number of companies up to the end of 1423H reached 11, 662 with a capital of more than SR. 171.4 billions. The number of the offices for services reached 4, 959 in various fields, while the number of trade agencies registered up the end of 1423H reached 7, 958. The ministry of commerce and industry has been keen to license more hotels and apartments in different cities. The number of hotels now totals 861 and apartments account for 1, 063 with a capacity of 142,000 rooms and 22, 749 furnished units for the apartments. A key element in the Saudi Arabian government's economic strategy is industrial diversification, a process which has as its primary objective the reduction of the Kingdom's dependence on oil revenues. To this end, the government has encouraged the development of a wide range of manufacturing industries. The government has provided a range of incentives to encourage the private sector to participate in the Kingdom's industrial effort. Eight industrial estates provide private Saudi manufacturing companies with the necessary infrastructure and services at a very low cost. Credit facilities on generous terms are readily available for such enterprises. The Kingdom has adopted a free market economic model. The financial, industrial and trade sectors of the economy have made rapid progress, enabling the private sector to play an increasingly important role in the development and diversification of the economy, especially in the fields of construction and farming. The Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) is an example, par excellence, of the practical results of the Kingdom's blend of long-range planning, long-term major investment and the judicious use of public and private sources of finance. SABIC was established by Royal Decree in 1976 (1396/97 AH) - its task being to set up and operate hydrocarbon and mineral-based industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Public Investment Fund provides long-term loans to SABIC on highly concessional terms. The balance of SABIC's capital requirements come from SABIC's joint venture partners. In addition, SABIC can make use of normal commercial loans. With these sources of finance, SABIC is able to undertake industrial projects considerably in excess of its own authorized capital of 10,000 million Saudi Riyals. SABIC today is among the leading international petrochemical companies in terms of sales and product diversity. Headquartered in Riyadh, SABIC is the Middle East's largest non-oil industrial company. SABIC's businesses are grouped into five core sectors: Basic Chemicals, Intermediates, Polyolefins ,PVC and Polyester , Fertilizers and Metals. Each sector consists of several Strategic Business Units (SBUs) that are entirely dedicated to the customers they serve. SABIC's manufacturing network in Saudi Arabia consists of 18 world-scale industrial complexes operated by 16 affiliates. Most of these affiliates are based in Jubail Industrial City on the Arabian Gulf. Two are located in Yanbu Industrial City on the Red Sea and one in the Eastern Province city of Dammam. SABIC is also a partner in three regional ventures based in Bahrain. The vision that led to SABIC's creation was closely associated with the aspirations of Saudi Arabia as a developing nation. SABIC continues to play an important role in achieving some of those aspirations, including the development of the country's human resources. SABIC is committed to Saudi social and cultural values and international business and environmental standards. SABIC is owned by the Saudi Government (70%) and the private sector (30%). Private sector shareholders are from Saudi Arabia and other countries of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Saudi Consulting House, established in 1967, was a Government consulting corporation which provided a range of research and consultancy services for industry in the Kingdom. The Saudi Consulting House operated under four main departments; Industrial Development Industrial Engineering Industrial Information Finance and Administration The Saudi Consulting House offered the following types of service; identification of new opportunities for industrial development identification of opportunities for the expansion of existing industrial projects provision of technical advice for industry at all stages of project implementation provision of professional advice to government agencies, on request provision of consultancy services in such areas as marketing, cost control and quality control On 10th April, 2000, the Saudi Consulting House was dissolved. All its duties and rights were transferred to the newly-established GCI. On 10th April, 2000, it was announced that the Cabinet had approved the formation of the General Commission for Investment (GCI). At the same time, the Cabinet dissolved the Saudi Consulting House and transferred all its duties and rights to the newly-established GCI. The industrial cities at Jubail and Yanbu have played a key part in the Kingdom's determination to develop hydrocarbon-based and energy-intensive industries. The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, established by a Royal Decree, dated 21st September 1975 (16 Ramadan 1395 AH), has created the basic infrastructure for these two cities, often described as the jewels in the Kingdom's industrial crown. By the end of the Third Development Plan (1405 AH: 1985), fifteen primary industrial projects (ten at Jubail and five at Yanbu) were operational. Jubail is the largest industrial city. By 1999, it had more than 70,000 full-time residents, 17 basic industrial plants, 16 secondary industrial plants and 100 supporting and light industries plants, as well as a dedicated desalination plant, a vocational training institute and a college. Yanbu is a major industrial site with a modern port from which products manufactured locally and in other areas of the Kingdom are exported. By end of 1999, Yanbu had 72,740 full-time residents, eight basic industrial plants, eleven secondary industrial plants and 33 supporting and light industrial plants. Geological surveys and mineral exploration have revealed that, in addition to vast oil reserves, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia possesses large deposits of various minerals, including bauxite, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, tin and a number of non-metallic minerals. On 23rd March 1997, in order to coordinate projects and promote efficiency in the mining industry, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maadin) was created, with an initial capital of more than $1 billion. Maadin is responsible for regulating mineral exploration and overseeing its progress. Mining projects which are owned by the Government or in which the Government is participating are to be consolidated and rebuilt commercially. Maadin will also provide sufficient basic infrastructure for mining projects located in remote areas. MAADIN owns Mahd adh-Dhahab and as-Sukhaibirat mines and has obtained exploration licences for the gold deposits in Wadi Bidah, Al-Hajar, Ad-Duwaihi, Samran, Sheban, Zalm and Hamdah, for phosphate ore in Wadi Al Sarhan and Turaif, for magnesium in Zargat, Jabal Abt and Jabal Al Rukham, for zinc in Al Khnaiguiyah, as well as licenses for exploration of industrial metals in Jabal Sodah. The company's articles of association stipulate that it will be reorganized as a joint stock company within five years of establishment. On 25th October, 1999 (corresponding to 16 Rajab 1420 AH), the Council of Minister issued decision No 115, approving the establishment of the Saudi Geology Survey Bureau, an independent juristic organization to conduct all geological survey operations for the Kingdom's onshore and offshore areas. The objectives of the Bureau were defined as follows: to Explore, investigate and record mineral resources to develop and upgrade geological database to conduct, on its own or through others, research and studies and to provide consultation services concerning its operations and activities to Government and private entities to provide geological services to the community and to lay down specifications for the geological environment and mining operation safety. to develop specialized national manpower and to promoting Saudization. The social services provisions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are extensive by any standards. The Fourth Five Year Development Plan (1405-1410 AH: 1985-1990) set out clearly the philosophy behind the Kingdom's extensive social services program: The social services are designed to redress existing imbalances, to improve living standards and the quality of life of the population, to stimulate citizen participation in community development activities, and to provide remedial care and assistance for the disabled and the deprived. There are a number of social service agencies whose task it is to remedy social problems, many of which are created by the process of social development itself. The government takes the view that poverty and deprivation are not necessarily due to the failure of individuals to meet their own needs. Most of these problems are a result of broader external conditions in society as a whole, and will not solve themselves. Public and private interventions are necessary to improve the conditions of the individual and the community. The Social Services agencies will continue to pay attention to the development of Saudi society, to assist in improving the standard of living, and to take steps to redress some of the social imbalances which have become salient during this period of rapid economic change. Amongst the social services provided by the state are wide-ranging programs designed to improve living conditions for the population and to smooth the processes related to the rapid transformation of the socio-economic system. There are a number of social rehabilitation, care and remedial services, designed to assist the physically or mentally disadvantaged, to protect vulnerable members of society, and to deal with such problems as juvenile delinquency. Special attention is given to raising the living standards of the poorest sections of the community, particularly in the villages and the less developed districts of the towns and cities. The Social Security section of the Ministry of Labor & Social Affairs provides assistance to Saudi citizens in the following categories; the unemployed, widows and widowers, females who have no living family members to support them, orphans, the disabled, families of those serving custodial sentences and victims of natural disasters. The General Organization for Social Insurance (GOSI) administers the Kingdom's national insurance scheme. GOSI pays allowances and makes payments for compensation to individuals and families within the scheme. By the end of 1996, 6,000,000 individuals and corporate bodies were covered by the scheme. On the other hand the General Presidency of Youth Welfare is responsible for the plastic arts movement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It prepares both an annual and a five year plan for the encouragement and development of the arts. Within the Kingdom it organizes regular competitions and exhibitions. Abroad, it arranges exhibitions of Saudi Arabian art to provide Saudi artists with an international forum and to strengthen cultural ties with the host countries. The Presidency has organized exhibitions of Saudi Arabian art in the following Arab countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. Outside the Arab world, the General Presidency of youth Welfare has organized exhibitions in India, Italy, Mexico, Sweden, Turkey, Germany and the United States of America (Source: General Presidency of Youth Welfare, 1988). The Presidency is also an active participant in the Arab Youth Festivals and Exhibitions, the Kuwait Exhibition for Plastic Artists and other periodic exhibitions in Europe, Asia and India and takes part in the Biannual Arab Exhibition which is supervised by the Arab Plastic Artists Union. Two other organizations play a key role in the artistic life of the Kingdom: The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts; and The King Fahd Cultural Center. In 1972 (1392 AH), a Royal Decree was issued to form the Saudi Arabian Arts Society. In 1978 (1398 AH), the name of the society was changed to the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts. This society is responsible for protecting and nurturing the culture of the Kingdom. Its duties are defined as follows: to develop progressively the level of culture and arts in the Kingdom, to look after the welfare of Saudi artists and work towards raising their cultural, artistic and social standards, to sponsor talented young people and provide an opportunity for them to develop and display their talents, ,to represent the Kingdom in all matters relating to the development of culture and arts at both Arab and international levels The work of the Society is managed by a number of committees: 1 The Cultural Committee This committee is responsible for encouraging Saudi men of letters and for raising public literary and cultural taste. 2 The Plastic Arts Committee This committee assists in the development of the plastic arts. It encourages Saudi artists and promotes their work by arranging exhibitions both within and outside the Kingdom. 3 The Music and Vocal Arts Committee This committee encourages music and singing, with special attention to the rich folk art of poetry and song to be found in the various regions of the Kingdom 4 The Information and Publications Committee This committee is not only responsible for the dissemination of all culturally related information to the Society's branch offices and to local newspapers but also maintains an archive of artistic productions and events in the Kingdom. The Society also maintains a Cultural Video Film and Recording Library and is responsible for the Kingdom's first Cultural Center in Riyadh, set up to revive and popularize the Kingdom's cultural heritage. In May, 2003, the Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts, formerly affiliated to the General Presidency for Youth Welfare, was transferred to the newly formed Ministry of Culture and Information. The annual Jenadriyah Heritage and Cultural Festival, organized by the National Guard under the command of the Crown Prince, plays a crucial role in preserving the Kingdom's national heritage. The festival begins with a traditional camel race and is intended to embrace all aspects of Saudi Arabian traditions and culture. A feature of the festival is the performance of traditional music by musicians from all over the Kingdom and national dances, including the Ardha, by folklore troupes. The festival runs for two weeks each year and is attended by more than one million Saudi citizens. King Fahd is patron of the Festival. The position of women in Islamic society in general and in Saudi Arabian society in particular is a complex and frequently misunderstood issue. It is certainly true that Muslim and Western views of the role of women show sharp cultural differences but the stereotype of Muslim women, as uneducated, with no rights and no opportunities is a caricature born of ignorance or malevolence. The Holy Qur'an gave women economic and social rights long before such rights were attained by Western women. From the beginning of Islam, women have been legally entitled to inherit and bequeath property, holding their wealth in their own names even after marriage, without obligation to contribute that wealth to their husband or their family. Under Islam, a woman is enjoined to behave modestly in public and, as in the West until recently, is generally expected to give a full commitment to making a family home - a home within which, incidentally, she enjoys a pre-eminent role. Such expectations are rather different from those now widely held of women in the West, just as the stability of family life and the security of women in Islamic society differs markedly from the conditions which women now face in Western society. Although women in Saudi Arabia have a pre-eminent role within the family, it would be a mistake to think that the role of women in Saudi Arabian society is confined to home-making. The development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has brought with it increasing opportunities for women in both education and employment. In 1960 (1379/80 AH), the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia undertook the introduction of a national education program for girls. By the mid-1970s (1390s AH), about half of all Saudi Arabian girls were attending school. Five years later, education was available to all Saudi girls.