The Availability of Skills of Knowledge-Based Economy in Secondary Education Outputs in Saudi Arabia, and Ways to fulfil them from the perspective of Education Experts and Businessmens

Abstract

The study aimed to identify the availability of knowledge-based economy skills in the outputs of secondary education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ways to fulfil them from the perspectives of the education experts and businesspersons. The researcher followed the descriptive survey approach, through two interviews, one is open, and the other is structured. The two interviews were conducted on experts of education and businesspersons in Saudi Arabia. The major findings of the study showed that the essential skills for the knowledge-based economy were: skills associated with knowledge and interaction, skills of teamwork and mass communication, skills linked to thinking. The results also revealed that skills associated with knowledge and interaction level, skills of teamwork and mass communication were available at a moderate, while the skills linked to thinking were at low level. The results also revealed that the procedures that would help secondary school in Saudi Arabia to provide students with the skills necessary for the knowledge economy included spreading the culture of knowledge-based economy in school community. The study concluded with recommending that students must be equipped with the skills of knowledge-based economy through the curriculum of secondary education, raising the abilities of teachers in using the principles of the knowledge economy and its application in teaching, restructuring the curriculum to make use of information and communication technology, and the adoption of strategies for continuing learning.