$50 million from Saudi Development Fund [Archives:2004/771/Local News]

Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training has received a loan of $50 million from the Saudi Development Fund to establish 19 technical institutes in several areas of the country. The new institutes are additional to the 16 government-funded institutes, said Minister Ali Mansour bin Saffa'a.
The European Union is also going to fund an institute for hotel services in the Capital City, and will support female specialists in Aden in the gas and oil industry, the minister added.
“The establishment of these institutes in different governorates will enhance the role of institutes greatly, help meet labor market needs, and contribute to poverty alleviation,” he said.
He defended the Cabinet's decree to transfer community colleges to the domain of the Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training, “since they are related to the market.”
He added that the ministry has set up a plan for a national technical education and vocational training strategy. This involves developing the infrastructure, operating the 35 institutes (which are still being prepared), and designing syllabi and training programs to meet the needs of the labor market.
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