| Education in Saudi Arabia has encountered sudden growth in all its elementary, intermediate, secondary, and college phases due to forced modernization and population growth. As a result, the Kingdom spends substantial amounts on education. One of the Kingdom's main goals in modernization has been to achieve food security. Increased agricultural self-sufficiency in a country with little agricultural production is reason enough to promote agricultural education since the latter will provide agricultural establishments with skilled labor needed for production. This vital role played by agricultural education confirms its importance and justifies the subsequent significance of a periodic reexamination of this type of education and various means for improving it.In looking at the history of education in Saudi Arabia, we find that agricultural education does not receive enough student turnout. This lack of interest can mostly be attributed to social factors that seem to affect young graduates' decisions, as well as an inefficiency and lack of organization in developing a solid agricultural education program.This study analyzes the historical record of general education and the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training in the development of agricultural education in Saudi Arabia using a combination of administrative documents issued by Saudi Arabian governmental agencies, and scientific studies conducted mostly by Saudi researchers. The positive and negative aspects of education trends are examined and recommendations are made for improving the conditions of agricultural education in Saudi Arabia.A curriculum should be developed that is easily comprehended by the teachers and that meets academic standards. Emphasis should be placed on quality rather than quantity. Education should be vocationalized and appropriate environments should be made available for students to learn both inside and outside the classroom. New technologies and educational aids should be incorporated into teaching methods including texts, instructional materials, and computers in order to reduce reliance on rote memorization of large quantities of materialsIn general, the agricultural education program should be designed to give students a background in occupation awareness, career choices, employability skills, and vocational ethics while providing opportunities to obtain a great deal of knowledge in plant and animal science, agricultural business and industry. By targeting the development of general skills such as problem solving, decision making, thinking, communicating, and transition skills, it is hoped that not only will the student develop an understanding of the contributions of agriculture to society and be better prepared for further education in agriculture, but he will also develop the leadership abilities needed to fulfill occupational, social, and civic responsibilities thus assisting in improving the economic efficiency of agriculture. |
