The Evolution of Women’s Education in Saudi Arabia: Developments in Basic and Higher Education (1960–2024)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the key developments and changes in women's education in Saudi Arabia from 1960 to 2024. The researcher adopted both the historical and documentary approaches to address the study's central question regarding the stages and evolution of women's education. The findings revealed that in 1960, formal schooling for girls was minimal, with only 15 schools, all of which were private. At that time, traditional non-formal education (known as kuttab) was the primary option for families who wished to educate their daughters. The study revealed that formal education for Saudi women began with the establishment of the General Presidency for Girls' Education in 1959. This organization initially opened elementary schools for girls and later expanded to include teacher training institutes, as well as intermediate and secondary schools. The study also showed that there was a clear administrative and organizational separation between male and female education; the Ministry of Education managed boys' schools, while the Presidency supervised girls' schools until their merger into the Ministry of Education in 2002.Regarding higher education, the study highlighted that King Saud University opened admission to female students in 1961 for the first time. In 1970, the first women's college was established in Riyadh, and in 2006, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, the world's largest women's university, was founded. The study concluded that women's education in Saudi Arabia has achieved remarkable progress between 1960 and 2024. The number of formal schools increased from just 15 to more than 19,000, while female students' completion rates for secondary education and enrollment in higher education institutions surpassed those of males. Furthermore, the number of women in higher education has exceeded that of men, reflecting the tremendous transformations in women's education and its vital role in national development.