A lot of Saudi students have been given scholarships to study in some Arab countries. Regrettably, some have enrolled in universities whose academic standards are far below than that of our local universities.

What then is the wisdom behind sending our students on scholarships to these institutions? I cannot find any logical justification unless there are personal or family circumstances such as the student’s family lives near one of these schools.

I want to say the real problem lies in the standard of the educational process and quality of education in these countries. I need not mention that education in general and university education in particular in most Arab countries is still below par. It is very difficult to separate the educational process from the general uninspiring environment where the educational process takes place.

There is no comparison between students who receive education in a disciplined and progressive environment and between those who receive their education in a chaotic environment.

It should be understood that the environment does not only mean the university campus and lecture rooms but it also it includes the whole society.

Some of the western societies and Asian countries such as Japan have succeeded in implanting the principles and values of discipline starting from standing in a queue and getting into a public bus. What we see in some Arab countries where our sons are studying is completely different.

The government’s allocation for scholarships is very huge. It spends billions of riyals on education investing in the national human resources, because investment in the minds is the one that leads to progress and welfare as is the case with Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia.

It should permit scholarships only towards these countries which have become a genuine source for modern knowledge and science and have become pioneers of innovation and creativity.

Thus we should head to countries where they have prestigious universities and quality education, along with a progressive and disciplined society.