In a strategic move aimed at keeping pace with global technological advancements and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Ministry of Education, the National Institute for Professional Development in Education, and Tatweer Educational Services Company signed three significant memoranda of understanding with the "Safi Electronic Games Group," a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund. These agreements aim to formally integrate the electronic games industry into school curricula, representing a fundamental transformation of the Kingdom's educational system.
Details of the agreements and their strategic objectives
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Education headquarters in Riyadh, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of the Group's Board of Directors, and His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef Al-Bunyan. This partnership focuses on equipping students with future skills and developing the e-sports sector by creating innovative career paths and national competitions. The agreements include integrating game development and industry concepts into general education, university education, and technical and vocational training.
Event context: National Strategy for Gaming and Esports
This move is not isolated from the general direction of the Kingdom; it is an integral part of the National Strategy for Electronic Games and Sports launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which aims to make the Kingdom a global center in this sector by 2030. This strategy works to diversify the national economy and provide thousands of job opportunities in the fields of programming, design, and digital innovation, as this sector is expected to contribute about 50 billion riyals to the gross domestic product.
Scholarship programs and human resource development
One of the most significant outcomes of these agreements is linking this sector to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program and the "Wa'ed" initiative, aimed at developing a globally qualified national workforce in the gaming industry. It was also agreed to accredit the "Safi Electronic Games Academy" within the strategic partnership institutes of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, and to establish innovation labs, thus ensuring the graduation of a generation capable of competing in the international job market.
Teacher development and the Madrasati platform
To ensure the success of this transformation, the agreements focused on the educational aspect by training teachers through specialized programs in gamification and the use of artificial intelligence. Interactive educational content will also be developed and integrated into the "My School" platform, enhancing the appeal of the learning environment and transforming it from traditional rote learning to innovative digital interaction.
