EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA - HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw

The study investigates equal opportunity in education and employment in Saudi Arabia, assessing progress and persistent gaps. Existing data indicate remarkable expansion in educational enrollment across K-12 and higher education, yet challenges continue in male academic achievement, female labor-force participation and wage parity, and access and retention for disadvantaged youth aged 6–24. Addressing these issues is essential to advance Vision 2030 and ensure fair access to learning, work, prosperity, and contribution.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Background of the Education Effort and Success in Saudi Arabia

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT IN SAUDI ARABIA: HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT CHALLENGES REMAIN ABDOURAHMANE BARRY Taibah University, Saudi Arabia ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the status of equal opportunity in education and employment in Saudi Arabia. Analyses of existing data show that the country has madea remarkable progress in educational enrollment at all levels (K-12 and higher education) . However, challenges remain in terms of academic achievement for males, participation in the labor force and wage parity for females, and school access and retention for disadvantaged young people (ages 6-24 years old) . To address these challenges and help achieve the sustainable development goals that the country envisioned in its “Vision 2030”, it is imperative that all people, regardless of gender or social, and economic status, be treated fairly and given an equal opportunity to learn, work, prosper, and contribute to the development of Saudi Arabia and beyond. INTRODUCTION Equal opportunity to gain knowledge and skills to function in a society is a precondition for equal opportunity to participate in education, employment, and national development. Equal opportunity requires fairness and impartiality. Whether in education or other fields, fairness involves making sure that circumstances related to gender, socioeconomic status, and background are not impediments preventing any individual from realizing his or her potential. In an inclusive society, everyone has equal opportunities to learn and use his or her knowledge to achieve desired goals. One vehicle through which a nation helps its people achieve desired goals is a quality education that is accessible to all. Education benefits both individuals and the society as more education is associated with a higher income, abetter life, and more participation in society (Field, KucZera, & Pont, 2007). Consequently, it is vital for individuals ina country to have equal access to appropriate educational services to develop their abilities and skills without limitations due to their background or circumstances. Thus, in the past decades, expanding education and making it available to all has been a priority in many countries. However, these countries still continue to face inequalities (Rice, 2015) in areas such as school access and retention, academic achievement, employment, and income. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the status of equal opportunity in education and employment in Saudi Arabia to understand what has been achieved and what remains to be achieved. BACKGROUND OF THE EDUCATION EFFORT AND SUCCESS IN SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia covers 80% of the Arabian Peninsula, making it the largest country in the Middle East. The population, as of 2018, is estimated to be 33,413,660 (19,240,956 males and 14,172,704 females), among whom 20,768,627 (10,575,895 males and 10,192,732 females) are Saudi and 12,645,033 (8,665,061 males and 3,979,972 females) are non-Saudis (Saudi General Authority for Statistics, 2019) . In the early years of its founding in 1932, Saudi Arabia was a poor country. With the blessing Educational Planning Winter 2021 7 Vol. 28, No. 1 of Allah, Subhanahuwa ta’ala (SWT), oil was discovered in 1936 and commercial production took off in 1938 (Al-Amri, 2011) . Funds generated from this natural resource helped in developing the country and opened the door to economic prosperity and a better life for its people. As is known today, Saudi Arabia is a blessed country with rich natural resources and Islamic values. Capitalizing on these resources, Saudi Arabia has succeeded in modernizing the country and improving the life of its people and others around the world. To continue on its development path, Saudi Arabia recognizes that a knowledge-based society in which all people have equal opportunity to learn, work, and prosper must be a priority. On this point, Alabdulmenem (2019) argued that it is thr

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study?

To investigate the status of equal opportunity in education and employment in Saudi Arabia, identifying what has improved and what challenges remain.

What educational progress does the study highlight?

The country shows remarkable progress in educational enrollment across K-12 and higher education levels.

What challenges remain according to the study?

Challenges include male academic achievement, female labor-force participation and wage parity, and school access and retention for disadvantaged young people aged 6–24.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dabgoudw