Riyadh: Saudi Arabian authorities on Tuesday ordered the handover of 25 state-run schools to be run by private sector companies.
Riyadh announced last week that it aimed to generate 35 billion to 40 billion riyals ($9 billion to $11 billion) of non-oil state revenues from privatisations by 2020, and an official overseeing that process told Reuters that school buildings would feature in some of the first deals.
The cabinet of ministers entrusted a supervisory committee for the education sector with the job of implementing the "Independent Schools" initiative, SPA reported.
The initiative is part of the education ministry's reform plans under Vision 2030.
The ministry announced in January a tender for a long-term concession to design, build, finance and maintain facilities for 60 schools in Jeddah and Mecca, from kindergartens to secondary schools.