Saudi Arabia Boasts Lowest Tuition Fees in GCC, Says NCLE CEO

Riyadh: According to Mohammad Al-Khudair, CEO of the National Company for Learning and Education (NCLE), Saudi Arabia offers the lowest tuition fees among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as stated in an interview with the Saudi daily Argaam.

Al-Khudair explained that tuition fee increases are influenced by market supply and demand, emphasizing that raising fees is not the most effective long-term strategy for boosting revenue in the current competitive environment.

Saudi Arabia's education industry shows considerable promise, with a 5% year-on-year growth in K-12 student numbers over the past five years, and private schools experiencing a significant 13% year-on-year expansion, Al-Khudair noted during the Saudi Capital Market Forum 2024.

While the education sector, like others, faces challenges, Al-Khudair expressed confidence in the collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the private sector to address these hindrances and enhance the industry on both investment and educational levels.

The NCLE is actively constructing three educational complexes in the Hetteen, Qurtubah, and Al-Narjis neighborhoods of Riyadh, all set to open next year. Moreover, two educational complexes have already commenced operations in the Al-Qairawan and Al-Arid districts in the current academic year 2023/24, Al-Khudair revealed.

Since its listing on the Tadawul stock exchange in November 2018, NCLE has successfully launched over 10 educational complexes through school construction and acquisitions.

Al-Khudair further mentioned that NCLE's government grants and subsidies currently account for 3% of revenue, with the funds being allocated primarily to the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) and, to a lesser extent, the Ministry of Education. These grants will be directed towards supporting fresh graduates, aligning with HRDF's initiative to provide wage subsidies to Saudi employees.

With its commitment to affordable education and collaborative efforts within the sector, Saudi Arabia continues to make strides in ensuring accessible and quality learning opportunities for its students.