Special and Adult Education

The Special Education Department of the Ministry of Education operates schools for the blind, deaf and the physically and mentally handicapped. Other institutes care for older handicapped people. The special schools are part of the Kingdom's effort to encourage every individual to reach his or her full potential.

Another important sector of Saudi Arabia's educational program is adult education. With its commitment to making education available to all and eradicating illiteracy, the Kingdom established a large number of adult education centers. In isolated rural areas, the government conducts intensive three-month adult education courses during the summer. The Kingdom's literacy rate is above 90 percent for men, and just over 70 percent for women.