Education System in Saudi Arabia: Of Change and Reforms

About the Book

The book is the first comprehensive study on the education system of Saudi Arabia in the world. It places the reforms and changes in the past two ecades within the context of the historical evolution of the education system and the interplay of social, political and religious factors in shaping these changes. The book does not ignore the immediate trigger for the beginning of the reforms process but goes beyond it to find much deeper socio-political and economic rationales that paved the way for the reforms.

It examines the education system of Saudi Arabia, placing the reforms and changes it has undergone in the past two decades within the context of the historical evolution of the education system. An education system cannot be seen in isolation of the society; it plays a significant role in shaping the
individual, state and the society, that in turn, have a bearing on the education system and its evolution. Therefore, this book locates Saudi education in the backdrop of the changes in the society, how they have facilitated or hindered the education reforms and how the education reforms have impacted the society. The book does not ignore the immediate trigger for the beginning of a comprehensive reforms process but goes beyond it to find much deeper socio-political and economic rationales that paved the way for the reforms. It provides a nuanced understanding of the
interplays of various socioeconomic as well as political factors that have shaped the education system in Saudi Arabia.

About the Author

Md. Muddassir Quamar is currently associated with the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India. He has focused his research on the social dynamics in Saudi Arabia within the context of the tensions emerging out of two seemingly non-harmonious trends – Islamization and modernization. He has published several research articles and book chapters on the subject. In addition, he has written extensively on India’s evolving relations with the Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern countries. Dr. Quamar was a Visiting Fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Riyadh in 2014–15.