The king abdulaziz foundation (darah) has published an oral history account by abdullah bin ibrahim al-salim as part of its king abdulaziz's men series:alim as part of its King Abdulaziz's men series, shedding light on the early development of formal education in Saudi Arabia. The account traces the country's transition from the traditional kuttab system, when only a limited number of people could read and write, to a more organized education system and the establishment of schools across several Saudi cities during the reign of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Salim recalls that, at the time, education relied primarily on kuttabs. Small towns typically had three or four, while larger cities had around six. Some villages, meanwhile, had no one with basic reading and writing skills. He describes how the transformation began as security and stability were established and King Abdulaziz turned his attention to organizing the affairs of the state. These early efforts gradually moved education beyond scattered, limited initiatives toward a more structured, expanding system.
Among the milestones Al-Salim recalls was a decision by the Shura Council, under the direction of King Abdulaziz, to open nine schools in several cities, including Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah, Unaizah, Buraidah and Al-Ahsa. The move marked a new chapter in the development of education, characterized by greater organization, the expansion of schools and the establishment of formal education across the Kingdom.
The account holds particular historical value because Al-Salim was both a witness to and participant in this formative period. A native of Al-Qassim, Al-Salim was among King Abdulaziz's men who served under him and became one of the prominent teachers of the generation that witnessed the emergence of formal schools. He also served as the head of Riyadh's first formal school.
The publication forms part of Darah's broader efforts to document Saudi Arabia's oral history and preserve the testimonies of King Abdulaziz's men who witnessed the various stages of state-building. Darah seeks to preserve these accounts and make them available to researchers and the public through its services, enriching the sources of Saudi national history, safeguarding the country's collective memory and passing it on to future generations.
