Saudi Government to Double university students’ allowance

Ministry-of-Education-Saudi-Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Higher Education is considering increasing university students’ allowances by as much as 100 percent.

This increase will include students in local universities and those abroad, Al-Sharq newspaper reported Tuesday. The ministry recently hosted a preliminary meeting to discuss the subject behind closed doors, and Al-Sharq learned that the increase would be 50 to 100 percent.

Al-Sharq sources said the Ministry of Finance previously rejected an increase in the allowance.

This led the Ministry of Higher Education to refer the matter to higher authorities, which resulted in the formation of a committee to review the allowance.

Allowances for local community college students were also discussed in the meeting, and the committee members agreed on granting those students an allowance similar to other colleges.

A number of students said an increase in allowance has become a necessity due to the high cost of living.

The current allowance was set over 30 years ago and should be reconsidered, they said.

Muhannad Qasim is about to graduate from a local university with a high GPA and said that he looks forward to a financial reward similar to the SR50,000 his father received when he graduated 35 years go.

Budoor Al-Malki said she almost quit university because of the high costs that her family had to bear.

She pays SR700 for the bus driver for her transportation to and from the university, while she receives an allowance of only SR850.

Ahmad Al-Hazmi, a student at the media and press college of Jazan University, said students have more expenditures than the unemployed, who receive SR2,000 from the Hafiz unemployment program.

Students have to buy books and other necessities, and this cost can be higher if they are medical and engineering students.

A number of students studying abroad have complained about the high cost of living, especially kindergarten costs.

Ibrahim Bakri who is studying in the US, said he receives $300 a month from the cultural attaché for kindergarten fees, while he pays $900 a month.

He added that students live in austerity due to the high cost of living, and this has a negative effect on their education.

He said he receives a monthly amount from his family to help him meet the high cost of living.

Dr. Mohammad Al-Aqeel, who is studying in Britain, wanted the Ministry of Higher Education to keep the exchange rate of the pound against the riyal fixed at SR5.92.

In case the rate is higher, it should not negatively affect students, he said.

However, if it goes below that rate, then the rate should be of benefit to the student.

Bandar Hamdi, a student in Australia, said he transfers $500 monthly from his allowance to his family in the Kingdom.

He lives with a family for $920 a month, including three meals a day, and spends another $170 for his transportation and mobile phone expenses.
Mohammad Al-Hazmi, another student in Australia, said his monthly allowance is sufficient for him and his family.

The cultural attaché in the US, Mohammad Al-Eisa, said they have previously recommended an increase in kindergarten allowances but have not received any reply.