The development of education system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the light of South Korea's experience according to the method of George Bereday of comparative study

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the most prominent features of the educational system in South Korea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to examine the extent to which the Korean experience can be utilized to develop the educational system in Saudi Arabia. The study selected South Korea as a country for comparison because it has attained a prominent position among the countries of the world in the contemporary era and is considered to have one of the strongest and most distinguished educational systems, according to global rankings of countries with advanced educational performance. The study, conducted during the second semester of the 1442 AH/2021 academic year, sought to describe and analyze the educational systems of South Korea and Saudi Arabia, trace the historical roots of these two systems, identify the factors influencing the educational system in each country, examine the objectives and foundations of the educational system in both countries, and highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the educational systems in each country. The study employed the comparative approach based on George Bereday’s method of comparative education, consisting of four stages: description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison. The study population comprised the two countries selected for comparison, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, while the study sample covered a comparison of various aspects of the educational systems in the two countries through relevant available sources, references, studies, and websites. To achieve the objectives of the study and answer its research questions, a set of procedures was followed to gain a deeper understanding of the main features of the educational systems in the two countries. The study concluded with a number of recommendations that could be utilized to develop the educational system in Saudi Arabia in line with advanced educational systems. In light of the study’s findings and recommendations, the study proposed conducting further research that could complement the issues addressed in this study and contribute to advancing the development of the educational system in Saudi Arabia.