Education

TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS

The technical education and vocational training programs are of three levels (Technological education, education and vocational training)

Technological Education

This kind of education is represented by the colleges of technology that were established to meet the Kingdom's labor market with its needs of technologically – qualified individuals in different fields. These colleges admit secondary schools and technical secondary institutes graduates.
Colleges of technology offer courses in electricity, electronics, computer, mechanics, administration, communications, construction and agriculture.

The main objectives for establishing these colleges are:

1. To expand the Saudi manpower base at the different technical fields and provide the various sectors with qualified national manpower.

2. To open new channels of higher technical education that meet the country's needs, and to create opportunities for secondary schools and technical institutes graduates.

3. To provide opportunities for enrollment at higher technical education for interested individuals by opening colleges of technology in the Kingdom's different regions.

4. To provide continuing education and training for workers at the technical and vocational fields.

Study at the colleges of technology focuses on the practical aspect. Therefore, scientific subjects at these colleges represent 50 percent of the (65 - 75) units required for graduation.

On 10-06-1409H(1989) The Royal Decree No 7/1194/11 was issued for upgrading the college of technology in Riyadh to award Bsc in engineering technology. Graduates of this college can have the same privileges being granted to the graduates of the engineering colleges at the Kingdom's universities. The BSC program started in 1413H (1983) and outstanding graduates of colleges of technology were admitted for BSC.

Technical Education, Industrial Education, Commercial Education, Technical Inspectors Education, Agricultural Education

TECHNICAL EDUCATION
Technical education provides instruction in the following sectors:

INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
This education is represented by the secondary industrial institutes that admit those who have completed intermediate school. Students are trained in a number of specialties like computer, communications, medical equipment, electronics, mechanics, electric installations and metal construction. The duration of study takes three years. Graduates are awarded the Secondary Industrial Institute Diploma that qualifies them to join government and private organizations.

COMMERCIAL EDUCATION
It aims at preparing national manpower to manage commercial, office and financial works. This kind of education is available at the secondary commercial institutes that admit intermediate schools graduates. These institutes provide morning and evening study shifts and the graduate is awarded the Secondary Commercial Institute Diploma after duration of three years. The student receives theoretical studies and practical training in accounting, book keeping, marketing, typing, word processing, office and secretarial work.

TECHNICAL INSPECTORS EDUCATION
The third branch of secondary technical education is the technical inspectors education represented by the secondary institutes for technical inspectors education represented by the secondary institutes for technical inspectors that accept intermediate schools graduates.
A three-year study period offers theoretical and practical instruction in survey , architectural works, architectural drawing and civil works. After completing three years, students are awarded the Technical Inspectors Secondary Institute Diploma.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
It aims at preparing Saudi manpower to work in agricultural sectors and contribute to the Kingdom's agricultural development plans. The secondary agricultural institutes train Saudi youth, who are graduates of intermediate schools, in the fields of agriculture and animal production as well as agricultural mechanization.

Agricultural institutes offer courses in agriculture like land reform, bee breeding, horticulture, irrigation, animal breeding and feeding, poultry, dairy production in addition to training in the operation and maintenance of agricultural machines like pumps, reaping machines and greenhouse technology. Graduates of the agricultural institutes are awarded the Secondary Agricultural Institute Diploma.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Vocational training aims at training and qualifying national manpower to meet the needs of both government and private sector. The vocational training programs provide an opportunity for individuals to refurbish their vocational skills to join the labor market. These centers provide morning training programs for those aged between 15 and 45 years in two semester courses. Practical training constitutes 70 percent of the program requirements. Theoretical subjects assist the trainee to understand practical training. The student has to spend at least two months and not more than three months in field training with an organization involved in his specialization. Evening shift courses are for government employees who cannot join the morning programs or individuals who do not meet the conditions set for admission to morning programs. Each evening training course takes one semester to complete and admission to these courses does not require a certain level of education like the morning ones which require the primary or intermediate certificate for admission.

Training course offered by vocational training centers cover various fields including: car mechanics, AC electricity, welding, carpentry, tinsmithing, audio visual electronics, sanitary installations, typing aluminum works, office machines repair, computer, haircutting, sewing, photography and architectural works.