Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah will open new educational projects worth SR1.8 billion ($480 million) in the region.
Hamid Al-Sulami, director general of education in the region, said the new projects would bring about qualitative improvement in education.
"The new projects will replace rented buildings and create an attractive learning atmosphere for children," he said.
Al-Sulami estimated the total value of educational projects to be implemented during this fiscal year at SR 1.8 billion.
These include renovation of existing school buildings and purchase of land for new buildings.
"We have recently received 73 school buildings that were constructed at a total cost of more than SR 450 million," he said, adding that it benefited more than 18,000 students.
The new buildings also helped the department save SR 6 million in payment of rents.
The department carried out about 90 renovation and extension works last year at a cost of SR 130 million.
"At present 53 school building projects worth SR 370 million for both boys and girls are under implementation,"Al-Sulami said.
The department is presently negotiating to purchase 22 plots at a cost of SR 286 million to construct new school buildings.
"We will construct most advanced buildings to create a better learning atmosphere," the director general said.
Contracts have been awarded to implement 59 new educational projects at a cost of SR 500 million, he added.
Arab News
22 March
