OECD offers to share expertise in education

 The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently discussed here the scope of cooperation with the Kingdom’s Public Education Evaluation Commission (PEEC) in the field of education.

The delegation was headed by Stefen Kapferer, deputy secretary-general of the organization, who expressed his willingness to share with Saudi Arabia OECD’s long experience in achieving long-term economic growth and improving people’s living standards.
PEEC Gov. Naif Al-Roomi said PEEC looked forward to cooperation between the two organizations in the field of education. They discussed various issues and aspects of cooperation that would raise the quality of education in the Kingdom.
He said that PEEC is committed to the cause of education in the Kingdom, which has been moving toward a knowledge-based economy by bringing about a qualitative change in teaching methods as well as improving the education system.
Evaluation of education on a regular basis is also a key component of this process. “Education in general, and public education in particular, is the cornerstone of the renaissance for national progress,” he observed.
It is the 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 Kingdom’s national development strategy, he noted.
Al-Roomi briefed the delegation on PEEC’s ongoing projects and strategic plan for evaluating the quality of education in the Kingdom.
“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 achieving that vision by developing high-caliber human capital capable of creating the desired development through quality education by creating an environment conducive to the elevation of academic standards.