The Educational Aspirations of Saudi Arabian Youth: Implications for Creating a New Framework to Explain Saudi Arabian Society

Abstract

Higher education in Saudi Arabia has garnered immense praise for its rapid expansion and developments in both quantity and quality. In response to this, the tertiary school enrollment in Saudi Arabia is rapidly rising. These achievements can be explained by changes in educational policies. However, studies regarding youth's awareness are scarce. Thus, this study clarifies the educational aspiration of Saudi Arabia's young generations through an awareness survey. Data collected from 316 respondents was analyzed by using SPSS. The findings of this study indicate strong educational aspirations of young Saudis who are motivated by their meritocratic way of thinking. These results are discussed while examining the application of status attainment and status expression theories in the case of Saudi Arabia.