SABGSD Schools

Aramco Government Schools 65 Years of Achievements

Since 1940, we have provided educational services for the dependents of Saudi Aramco employees. Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools (SAES) provide an English language American curriculum for grades K4-9 for the children of Saudi Aramco expatriate employees.

Aramco Government Schools 65 Years of Achievements

Vision of the Aramco-Built Public Schools Division

By 2025, the Aramco-built public schools division will be managed by qualified, responsible, and effective leaders who ensure that all Saudi Aramco schools have a distinctive identity and make an impact on students' future educational experiences by implementing innovative technology in multiple learning pathways, and by relying on foundations of excellence.

Mission of the Aramco-Built Public Schools Division

To continue providing high-quality maintenance services, implementing innovative technology, and striving to improve the school environment to support the goals of the Ministry of Education and ensure that Saudi Aramco schools are safe, clean, and world-class.

Historical Overview

The history dates back to the agreement signed between representatives of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Saudi Aramco in 1953, which stipulated that Saudi Aramco would build elementary schools to accommodate all the children of Arab and Muslim Aramco employees in their residential areas. In 1954, the actual construction began with the first boys' school in Dammam, named the First Elementary School in Dammam (currently Al-Qadisiyah Elementary School), which had the honor of being inaugurated by His Majesty King Saud bin Abdulaziz (may God have mercy on him) in 1954. This was followed by the establishment of the first girls' school in 1960. By 2005, the number of government schools built by Saudi Aramco reached 139 schools, including 74 boys' schools and 65 girls' schools, distributed across cities and neighborhoods in the Eastern Province: Ras Tanura, Safwa, Anak, Qatif, Dammam, Thuqbah, Khobar, Doha, Dana, Buqayq, Mubarraz, Muhasin, Hofuf, and Udailiyah.

Maintenance Portal

To maintain the building and utilize it for the longest possible period, the Government School Buildings Department established an electronic maintenance portal in 2010 to receive maintenance requests for schools. The portal receives more than 15,000 requests annually, monitored by both the Maintenance Department and the Operations Unit.

School Facilities

The school building has a positive impact on creating a distinctive and attractive educational environment. Attention was paid to all details of the school building, including the selection of appropriate construction materials and control of sound-affecting factors. Furniture, carpeting, and other influencing factors were considered. The school is centrally air-conditioned to provide optimal moderate temperatures in summer and winter. Attention was given to providing necessary lighting and appropriate facilities for activities inside and outside the building, such as gymnasiums, outdoor covered playgrounds, and artificial turf fields.

Technical Development

The Government School Buildings Department is committed to technical development in schools and works to provide schools with the latest educational technologies. Recently, schools were equipped with 1,712 interactive screens, 52 interactive whiteboards, and 2,792 computers for computer labs. The department also provides schools with assistive technologies including 864 printers, 361 photocopiers, and 1,572 computers.

Training Programs

Recognizing the importance of training to keep pace with the equipment and technologies provided to schools, the department has trained school staff on using modern technologies. Training courses included: Maintenance portal training with more than 448 school principals participating, and interactive screen training with 2,570 teachers participating.

School Environment Development

The department has developed school buildings and improved their environment by implementing several development projects including: replacing alarm systems with more advanced systems for faster emergency response, renovating and replacing air conditioning systems according to international school design standards, improving traffic safety around schools in cooperation with municipalities and traffic departments, developing and adding outdoor activity areas, preparing entrances and facilities for people with special needs, covering open courtyards to protect students from harsh weather conditions, renovating and replacing waterproofing on all school roofs, developing science and computer labs, and upgrading information technology systems and educational aids.

Awareness Programs

To ensure the safety and health of our students, the department has conducted several training courses and awareness lectures including: 30 lectures on oral and dental health benefiting more than 23,000 female students and more than 533 teachers in 52 schools, 20 training courses on first aid and CPR benefiting 206 teachers, fire safety programs, and 10 lectures on safe driving benefiting more than 900 students.

Achievements

As Aramco schools provide an attractive and distinctive environment, several schools have won excellence awards at local and regional levels. Eight schools received 13 awards including: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Educational Performance, Excellence Award from the Ministry of Education, and Sheikh Abdulwahab Al-Mousa Award for Scientific Excellence.

Royal Patronage

Aramco schools are proud that their openings were under the generous patronage of His Highness the Emir of the Eastern Province and Ahsa Governorate, including: Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Educational Complex for Girls in Dammam, First Intermediate School for Girls in Mubarraz, Prince Saud bin Nayef Elementary School, Prince Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Elementary School in Hofuf, and other distinguished schools.