Don’t let the media damage the reputation of Saudi scholarship students

As a result of the program, we will have doctors, engineers, researchers and administrators in a variety of fields. We will see the fruit of all of this once these students graduate and return to the Kingdom to enter the job market. They will add value to the national economy and will contribute positively to the Kingdom's development. Although it will take time before the effects of this program begin to materialize, some of its fruits can already be seen.

The government has spent hundreds of billions on education and tens of billions on the scholarship program; it has also spent money on the dependents of students. The program is even open to students who went to study abroad at their own expense and then joined later. Student applicants are not usually rejected as long as their goal is to gain an education. The government is generous and will continue to spend more on students. I do not believe there is a country in the world that has spent money the way the Kingdom has on its students, both male and female.

The role of the Ministry of Higher Education is to regulate scholarships through Saudi consulates. From what I hear from students on scholarships, the consulates are doing a great job in caring for their needs. However, we are now hearing negative stories about some scholarship students. Whatever the circumstances surrounding these incidents may be, I believe that such things are normal given that there are more than 250,000 scholarship students and family members currently living abroad. When something happens to one of them, it is often highlighted by the media in a negative way as if it was an inherent problem rather than an ordinary occurrence.

I am not attempting to understate the pain and suffering of the families of scholarship students who were involved in negative incidents. Indeed, it is important for Saudi embassies to provide those involved with the necessary help.

However, we need to realize that with over 250,000 scholarship students studying abroad, something negative is likely to occur. When that happens, we should try to focus on the positive rather than on the negative. After all, the Kingdom is spending tens of billions of Saudi riyals a year on developing the Kingdom and its students.

Accidents, for example, occur on family holidays. They also happen when at work or when visiting friends. These are rare occurrences and should not be assumed to be the norm. With so many students and their families abroad, accidents should be considered to be things that happen and a part of destiny. I am sure that our consulate offices warn students and advise them regularly.

We need to realize that the King Abdullah Scholarship Program is a means to serve the Kingdom and to create a cadre of qualified Saudi graduates who will contribute positively to the future development of our nation. We should not let the few incidents that happen damage the reputation of scholarship students.