70% of Saudi high school students ‘must get technical training’

The majority of high school students should be sent to technical colleges rather than universities to prepare them for jobs needed by industry, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, according to a human resources expert.
Abdulaziz Al-Awwad, chairman of the private training centers’ committee and member of the human resources committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said only 30 to 35 percent of high school students should be allowed to enroll at universities, like the norm globally. The rest, 65 to 70 percent, must go to technical colleges.
He cited an official from the Ministry of Higher Education stating that universities should be willing to admit 90 percent of high school graduates. He said this figure was too high and resulted in many young Saudi university graduates sitting at home without jobs. Read more...