Adult Education in Saudi Arabia.

Overview & Synopsis

Religion pervades all aspects of Saudi Arabia, the conservative home of Islam, where the constitution is the Quran and law is interpreted by religious scholars. A formal adult basic education program was initiated in 1960. As part of the country's modernization since the early 1970s, the Saudi government has begun an enormous nation-building plan that includes universal education and adult literacy education programs. The Quran remains the primary reading material for literacy training. The government offers financial incentives to program completers and pays the entire cost of the programs for all students. Literacy rates have increased tenfold during the last 25 years. Other training programs are also an integral part of the adult education process, but not to the extent literacy programs are. Although as recently as 30 years ago, women were not permitted to become literate in formal programs and 99 percent were illiterate, women now total over one-third of all adult education students. Religious leaders are primarily responsible for women's education, but only blind imams are allowed to teach women the Quran. (The document includes a chronology of events in the development of Saudi Arabian education, a table showing government expenditures for education in selected years from 1945-1983, and a 30-item bibliography.) (CML)