By: Dr. Mounira Jamjoom, PwC Middle East Partner, Education & Skills
On this National Day, I think of how far we’ve come. I think of classrooms, the girls I studied with, the teachers who shaped us, and the opportunities we once wished for. Today, my son and daughter walk those very paths, choosing from possibilities we could only dream of.
Education is no longer a way to catch up; it’s how we lead. As we reflect on the Kingdom’s transformation, we must ask: are we building a system that can carry us forward, generation after generation? Because in the end, education is not just a pillar of transformation. It is the transformation.
Strong education systems do more than produce skilled individuals, they build national capability. The sectors driving Vision 2030, energy, health, AI, and tourism, cannot succeed without a steady pipeline of talent. Just as the Kingdom has invested in transport and digital infrastructure, education must continue to be treated as a strategic asset. And today, learners, educators, and communities are not just participating, they are increasingly being heard. Initiatives like the Consultative Teacher Council reflect a deeper commitment to shaping talent and education with those who live it every day.
Education must stay tightly aligned to national priorities and the demand for future skills. That means embedding AI literacy across disciplines, aligning technical training with sector needs, and ensuring curricula evolve as fast as the market. With that being said, a clear awareness and mindfulness to the challenges that come from AI integration is essential. None of this can happen in isolation. It requires deep partnerships between government, business, and education providers, and partnerships focused not just on reform, but on real-world readiness.
Teachers need tools, institutions must meet international benchmarks, and learners need clear outcomes that match market demand. For Saudi Arabia, that means building ecosystems that support lifelong learning, mentoring, and career development across all stages of life.
We are seeing this progress take hold. According to the Human Progress Report 2025, nearly nine in 10 Saudis believe upskilling and lifelong learning will create new opportunities. The Human Capability Development Program, through its initiatives, is playing a central role in shaping this future, from early childhood education to professional training, ensuring that talent is developed across every life stage.
For many Saudis, especially those of us who grew up before Vision 2030, this transformation is more than policy. It’s personal. We remember when learning meant adapting to legacy systems. This shift didn’t happen by chance. It happened through belief, national investment, and the quiet determination of those who paved the way.
Resilience isn’t built through infrastructure alone. It’s built through people, through their ability to learn, adapt, and lead.
Education is the invisible infrastructure that ensures every other investment, in health, energy, innovation, and technology, has the foundation to thrive. And unlike other infrastructures, it never becomes obsolete. It renews a nation from within. As someone who has lived this journey, I am proud of how far we’ve come, and I look forward to seeing even more young minds, especially Saudi women, take their place in building the future we all believe in.
Sources:
- Saudi Vision 2030 Official Site, Human Capability Development Programme
- World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2023
- World Bank, Education and Skills Development in Saudi Arabia
- OECD, Education Policy Outlook: Saudi Arabia
- PwC, Future of Education in the Middle East
- Human Capability Initiative Report 2025
