National Education eyes expansions in Saudi Arabia: chairman

The National Company for Learning & Education (NCLE) is planning to expand across the Kingdom, Vice Chairman and Managing Director Khalid Al-Khudair told CNBC Arabia on Wednesday.

“The company is developing three sites in the Eastern Province,” Al-Khudair said.

On the other hand, Al-Khudair added that he expects new education firms to go public in the local market, ruling out the entrance of unsuccessful schools.

“The private education sector is seeing mergers and acquisitions. Only the major and strong schools will survive,” he said.

Saudi households spend SAR 18 billion annually on education, with the education costs per student exceeding SAR 100,000 in some regions. The middle-income households also allocate 30 percent of its income for education.

Private schools are focusing on the quality of services amid growing demand of Saudi households. The Kingdom has almost 5,500 private schools, Al-Khudair concluded.