JEDDAH — The Saudi Council of Competition has sought public opinion on the reorganization of the private education sector through mergers and acquisitions. Statistics indicate that private education in the Kingdom saves SR11 billion a year, it said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Tuesday. There are more than 3,000 private schools in various stages of education across the Kingdom, it said, and asked the public whether it would be economically feasible to merge many of these schools for fairer competition. The statement asked the public to express their views at www.coc.gov.sa/yahomna. The Council also announced that the Riyadh-based Atta Educational Company has presented an application for the acquisition of Jarir National Schools Complex Company for Boys and Girls, New International Middle East Schools, Modern International Middle East Schools, International Middle East Schools, Sulaymaniyah Private International Schools and National Al-Fikr Schools. Most of the private schools are managed by community members of various nationalities. These schools impart education to expatriate children who cannot study in public schools. Recently, Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal decided to correct the status of these schools by bringing all of them under the ministry's supervision. Last week, The Council of Ministers approved regulations allowing private schools to benefit from plots of land designed for public educational facilities. According to the regulations, the minister of education will form a standing committee in each education department headed by the director of the department and at least three members representing departments for building affairs, private education and school planning. The committee will examine the applications submitted by the owners of land designed for educational facilities or those who are licensed to establish private schools on such properties.
