King Abdullah has allocated SR12.5 billion ($3.33 billion) from this year's budget surplus for educational and training projects, including SR4 billion for the construction of new college and university buildings.

The government is keen to improve the educational standards and develop institutions of higher learning, a report quoting Dr Abdullah Al-Rashid, rector of King Khaled University in Abha, said.
The amount is part of SR78 billion allocated by the king from the 2005 budget surplus for welfare and development projects. Education and training received the lion's share of the allocation.
Saudi Arabia sets aside about 20 percent of the national budget for education and manpower training.
There are now 12 government universities and three more are under construction in Jizan, Hail and Al-Jouf, said the report.
Plans are also under way to transform 102 existing women's colleges into women's universities.
King Abdullah has already instructed authorities to merge the six women's colleges in Riyadh into a single university.
The King Khaled University has made tremendous progress since it was established in 1998.
The number of its colleges has increased from four to 18; the number of students on its roll from 1,521 in 1999 to 7,290 this year; and higher education programs from zero to 15, the report said.
He said the new allocation of SR4 billion would further strengthen the Kingdom's universities, helping them to play a significant role in the country's overall development.