RIYADH: Kingdom Holding Company has announced that Kingdom Schools and GEMS Education, a global provider of education from kindergarten to grade 12 levels, has entered into a partnership with each other. Under the agreement, GEMS has become the new manager of Kingdom Schools.
“Partnering with the largest private school provider in the world, with its significant education expertise, will have a very positive effect on our school both from an operational and academic perspective,” said Talal Al-Maiman, chairman of Kingdom Schools.
“Our quest to be the leading private school for Saudi nationals in Riyadh will be enhanced by this partnership. After all, GEMS has been operating in the Gulf region for 50 years.”
Al-Maiman added that he hoped the partnership would allow the school to harness the resources from the GEMS Global Network in areas like the professional development of teachers and quality assurance.
“This important partnership is going to bring to reality and reflects (Kingdom Holding Company Chairman) Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s vision to provide only the best of what can be offered in the field of education to our future Saudi leaders.”
The Kingdom Schools Company opened for business in 2000, with the goal of providing an individualized educational experience, particularly for upper to middle class families in Riyadh.
Kingdom Schools operates a group of elementary, intermediate and high schools as well as a kindergarten for girls and boys in the capital. “This is a massive declaration of confidence in GEMS and represents the most important step into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to date,” said chairman of GEMS Education Sunny Varkey.
“It is testimony to the track record that GEMS Education has developed over the past 50 years in the Middle East. Indeed, I believe bringing GEMS’ expertise into Riyadh has positive implications for KSA’s education sector as a whole.”
GEMS country head for the Kingdom, Andrew Short, said the company was committed to forging a strong partnership with Kingdom Schools.
“It is a commitment to creating a belief in the power of strategic and inclusive change management processes, and a respect for local culture and heritage,” he said.
“It is a belief in collaboration and cooperation and a focus on implementing performance management systems and academic improvement plans. They are the critical success factors of this partnership.”
He said the partnership would further develop the school’s “college preparatory programs,” benefiting students further.
Short claimed GEMS graduates usually go on to study at some of the best universities in the world.
GEMS has significant experience with a variety of national curricula, including American curricula. GEMS Dubai American Academy, which also offers the International Baccalaureate, is one of the most popular and best performing schools in the Gulf.
GEMS manages a growing network of nearly 100 high quality international schools around the world. GEMS network of schools provide a unique brand of holistic education to 85,000 students from over 124 countries, employing over 6,500 education professionals, specialists and staff from over 50 nationalities.
© Arab News
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