analysis of the spatial distribution of public secondary girls' and boys' schools in riyadh, saudi arabia

314 Pages·2014·18.4 MB·English

ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC
SECONDARY GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ SCHOOLS
IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
Thesis submitted for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Leicester
By
Nasser Marshad Al-Zeer
Department of Geography
University of Leicester
September 2005
UMI Number: U205054
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ANALYSIS THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC
GIRLS’ AND BOYS’ SECONDARY SCHOOLS
IN RIYADH
NASSER MARSHAD AL-ZEER
Abstract
This thesis examines the spatial distribution of secondary schools in Riyadh. It
considers both public girls and boys sector provision and assesses the efficiency of the
spatial distribution of secondary schools. Since the establishment of the Ministry of
Education (MOE) in 1953 and General Presidency for Female Education, (GPFE) in
1960, there has been a great expansion of education services in Saudi Arabia,
particularly during the 1980s. However, recent years have seen much slower rates of
increase in the public education sector but the population continues to grow rapidly.
This thesis investigates the spatial distribution of schools through the use of
questionnaire surveys and applied GIS. Overall, the results indicate a shortage of public
secondary schools, especially in the north of the city. It is clear that there is
overcrowding in the majority of secondary schools. The establishment of new schools
has been suggested to solve the problem of overcrowding. A number of socio-economic
and demographic factors are associated with differences in the utilization of the public
secondary schools.
A GIS was applied in this study in order to assess the spatial distribution of secondary
schools including the modification of existing catchment area boundaries and locating
new schools. This modification could also reduce the pupil pressure on certain schools
and further benefits could probably be gained.
II
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all the people who agreed to participate in this research, including
the survey respondents, staff in the Ministry of Education, the High Commission of
Riyadh Development, and staff at the Administration of Education for Girls and Boys in
Riyadh District. I would like to express my deep and sincere appreciation to the many
individuals and institutions who have given information and assistance in order to make
this thesis a reality.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Michael
Bradshaw, for his generous investment of time, encouragement, suggestions and
insightful counselling thus making this study possible. His intensive and creative
comments have helped me step by step through the many complexities of the researcher
process. Professor Bradshaw has had a profound effect on my approach to this research
and I will never forget his supervision and support. Of course, my thanks also go to the
other supervisory members in the Department of Geography, especially Ms. Kate More,
since their valuable comments helped shape the directions taken in this study.
A special note of thanks goes to King Saud University, for their financial support during
my stay in Leicester. Also, I am greatly indebted to my friends Dr. Haif A1 Amri, Dr.
Saleh Dabil and my friend David Middleton for their encouragement and help. My
appreciation goes to my mother for moral support and prayers for my success. Finally, I
am specifically grateful to my wife for her patience and to my children for their support
and tolerance.
Ill
List of Abbreviations
KS A: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
MOE: Ministry of Education
GNI: Gross National Income
GDP: Gross Domestic Product
LEAs: Local Education Authorities in England and Wales
HCRD: High Commission for Development of Riyadh
AEGRD: Administration of Education for Girls in Riyadh District
AEBRD Administration of Education for Boys in Riyadh District
GIS: Geographic Information System
RS: Riyal Saudi
EDISC: Educational Development and Information Statistical Centre
DCSS: Data centre and Statistics Section
PEB: Program on Educational Building
OECD: Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development
IV
Table of Contents
Abstract..............................................................................................................................II
Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................Ill
List of Abbreviations......................................................................................................IV
Table of Contents..............................................................................................................V
List of Figures...............................................................................................................VIII
List of Tables.....................................................................................................................X
List of Appendices..........................................................................................................XII
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................... 1
Introduction...................................................................................................1
1.1 The study background.................................................................................................1
1.2 The Geographical Location........................................................................................2
1.3 The Population.............................................................................................................3
1.4 Study area.....................................................................................................................4
1.5 Revenue and Developments.......................................................................................7
1.6 Statement of the Problem............................................................................................8
1.7 Aims and Objectives..................................................................................................11
1.8 The Significance of the study....................................................................................12
1.9 Structure of the Thesis..............................................................................................13
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................14
Literature Review........................................................................................14
2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................14
2.2 Definition of education.............................................................................................14
2.3 Rationale for developing educational provision.....................................................15
2.4 Educational provision: Geography matters...........................................................19
2.5 School catchment areas and choice.........................................................................23
2.6 Location-allocation....................................................................................................31
2.7 The role of GIS...........................................................................................................38
CHAPTER THREE....................................................................................44
Research Methods....................................................................................... 44
3.1 Introduction:..............................................................................................................44
3.2 Variables of the research study and the need for data.........................................45
3.3 Research methodologies...........................................................................................47
3.4 Selection of the population and sample...................................................................48
3.5 Research Design.........................................................................................................59
3.6 Questionnaire design.................................................................................................59
3.7 Interviews...................................................................................................................61
3.8 Pilot study...................................................................................................................63
3.9 Main survey management........................................................................................64
3.10 Preparation of data for statistical analysis...........................................................66
3.11 Analysing the survey data......................................................................................67
3.11.1 Analysing the questionnaire data...........................................................................67
3.12 The GIS techniques..................................................................................................70
3.12.1 Location-allocation.................................................................................................70
3.12.3. Using the strategy of case study...........................................................................72
3.13 Conclusions...............................................................................................................74
CHAPTER FOUR.......................................................................................76
The Educational System in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia....................76
4.1 An Overview of education policy in Kingdom Saudi Arabia...............................76
4.1.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................76
V
4.1.2 The Culture in Saudi Arabia.....................................................................................80
4.1.3 The objectives of educational development in Saudi Arabia.................................82
4.1.4 Education Policy.......................................................................................................83
4.1.5 Aspects of the work of the Ministry of Education...................................................84
4.2 The structure of the education system in Saudi Arabia.......................................84
4.2.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................84
4.2.2 Levels and types of Saudi Education.......................................................................85
4.3 Conclusions.................................................................................................................90
CHAPTER FIVE........................................................................................92
The Population and Construction Growth in Riyadh............................92
5.1 Introduction................................................................................................................92
5.2 The stages of construction and population growth in Riyadh City.....................94
5.2.1 First Stage: “Pioneer” 1750-1901 AD......................................................................96
5.2.2 Second stage: the stage of slow growth 1900-1950 (the establishing stage) 97
5.2.3 Third Stage: The "Real Development" stage, 1951- 1970.......................................99
5.2.4 The stage of population and construction explosion: 1976-2002........................ 102
5.3 Reasons behind the population growth.................................................................105
5.3.1 Natural Increase......................................................................................................107
5.3.2 Migration.................................................................................................................108
5.4 Population Distribution and its Demographic Characteristics.........................109
5.4.1 Population: distribution and density.......................................................................109
5.5 Demographic characteristics (Age structures and Gender)..............................116
5.6 Conclusions................................................................................................................120
CHAPTER SIX...........................................................................................122
The development of secondary education in Riyadh........................... 122
Introduction...............................................................................................122
6.1. Female secondary education (1975).....................................................................122
6.2 Female secondary education (1980)......................................................................125
6.3 Female secondary education (1985)......................................................................126
6.4 Female secondary education (1990)......................................................................128
6.5 Female secondary education (1995)......................................................................130
6.6 Female secondary education (2002)......................................................................131
6.7 Male secondary education (1975)..........................................................................133
6.8 Male secondary education (1980)..........................................................................134
6.9 Male secondary education (1985)..........................................................................137
6.10 Male secondary education (1990)........................................................................138
6.11 Male secondary education (1995)........................................................................140
6.12 Male secondary education (2002)........................................................................141
6.13 The relative changes in secondary education at the time of comparison 144
6.14 Conclusions.............................................................................................................149
CHAPTER SEVEN...................................................................................150
Questionnaire Analysis.............................................................................150
7.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................150
7.2 Demographic background of respondents............................................................150
7.3 Socio-economic characteristics..............................................................................155
7.4 Mode of transport....................................................................................................158
7.5 Travel time................................................................................................................162
7.6 The status of public transportation.......................................................................165
7.7 Hire car cost.............................................................................................................168
7.8 The decision maker in the choice of school...........................................................169
VI
7.9 Factors that influence selection of secondary schools.........................................170
7.10 Identifying key criteria..........................................................................................173
7.11 Conclusions.............................................................................................................184
CHAPTER EIGHT...................................................................................186
Evaluation of the location of schools in Riyadh.....................................186
8.1 Introduction..............................................................................................................186
8.2 Distance travelled (Straight line)...........................................................................186
8.3 Secondary school density.........................................................................................194
8.4 Riyadh secondary schools catchment areas..........................................................199
8.5 Investigation of the capacities of schools in Riyadh............................................203
8.6 A case study of Oraija Municipality.....................................................................210
8.6.1 Evaluation of the current location of secondary schools in Oraija municipality. 211
8.6.1.1 Distribution of secondary schools in Oraija municipality.................................211
8.6.1.2 The current catchment areas for secondary schools..........................................214
8.6.1.3 The current catchment areas for secondary schools..........................................223
8.6.1.4 Assessment of the distribution patterns of secondary schools:..........................225
8.6.2 Dealing with excess student numbers in the schools..........................................229
8.6.2.1 The location of the new schools.........................................................................233
8.7 Conclusions...............................................................................................................244
CHAPTER NINE....................................... 245
Conclusion and Recommendation.......................................................... 245
Introduction....................................................................................................................245
9.1 Summary of main research findings.....................................................................246
9.2 Contribution and Implications..............................................................................247
9.2.1 Secondary schools distribution...............................................................................247
9.2.2 Means of Transportation.........................................................................................248
9.2.3 Choice of school.....................................................................................................249
9.2.4 Distance and time....................................................................................................250
9.2.5 Application of a GIS...............................................................................................251
9.3 Recommendations..................................................................................................253
9.4 Limitations..............................................................................................................254
9.5 Future work............................................................................................................255
List of references............................................................................................................257
Appendixes.....................................................................................................................272
VII
List of Figures
Figure 1.1 Map of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia........................................................2
Figure 1.2 Riyadh City: Municipalities and Wards boundaries..................................6
Figure 1.3 Total revenues and oil revenues.................................................................9
Figure 3.1 Conceptual model of the research variables ...................................46
Figure 3.2 Prototype of the web-based Pearson calculator.......................................53
Figure 3.3 Action Plan for solving the research problem.........................................59
Figure 3.4 An example from SPSS interface.............................................................67
Figure 4.1 Expenditure on Education for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
1970-2002...................................................................................................79
Figure 5.1 Urban expansion of Riyadh 1930- 02.......................................................95
Figure 5.2 Plan of Riyadh in 1862.............................................................................96
Figure 5.3 Plan of Riyadh in 1919.............................................................................98
Figure 5.4 Riyadh populations during 1862-2004...................................................105
Figure 5.5 Territorial expansion of Riyadh during 1862-1996...............................106
Figure 5.6 Lorenze curves for Riyadh...................................................................112
Figure 5.7 The density of Riyadh.............................................................................115
Figure 6.1 Girls secondary schools according to the year of establishment of
the school..................................................................................................124
Figure 6.2 Boys secondary schools according to the year of establishment...........136
Figure 6.3 School expansion during 1975 to 2002..................................................145
Figure 6.4 The growth in pupil numbers during 1975 to 2002.................................146
Figure 6.5 The growth of classes during 1975 to 2002........................................... 147
Figure 7.1 Age distribution.......................................................................................152
Figure 7.2 length of journey to school.....................................................................163
Figure 7.3 length of journey to home......................................................................165
Figure 7.4 Factors that influence selecting secondary schools...............................171
Figure 7.5 Scree Plot for choice of school items.....................................................177
Figure 8.1 Students reallocation code flow chart....................................................189
Figure 8.2.A: Current and optimum average distances to girls secondary
schools by municipality...........................................................................191
Figure 8.2.B: Current and optimum average distances to boys secondary
schools by municpality............................................................................191
Figure 8.3 Current distribution and relocation of girls according to their
nearest school...........................................................................................192
for the districts of Riyadh.........................................................................................192
Figure 8.4 Current distribution and relocation of boys according to their
nearest school for the districts of Riyadh................................................193
Figure 8.5 Density map for girls secondary schools in Riyadh...............................196
Figure 8.6 Density map for boys secondary schools in Riyadh..............................197
Figure 8.7 Current catchment areas for secondary girls and boys schools in
Riyadh.......................................................................................................202
Figure 8.8 Current school positions and areas of excess pupil numbers for
girls and boys schools.............................................................................205
Figure 8.9 Excess of pupils over capacity at girls secondary schools before
and after redistribution of pupils.............................................................208
Figure 8.10 Excess of pupils over capacity at boys secondary schools before
and after redistribution of pupils.............................................................209
Figure 8.11 Oraija Muincipality.............................................................................211
Figure 8.12 Current distribution densities of secondary girls and boys
schools in Oraija municipality.................................................................212
VIII
Figure 8.13 Current catchment area shapes for secondary girls and boys
schools in Oraija municipality.................................................................214
Figure 8.14A Girls secondary schools according to pupils from within and
outside the school’s ward........................................................................219
Figure 8.14B Girls secondary schools according to pupils from within and
outside the school’s ward........................................................................220
Figure 8.15A Boys secondary schools according pupils from within and
outside the school’s ward........................................................................221
Figure 8.15B Boys secondary schools according to pupils from within and
outside the school’s ward......................................................................222
Figure 8.16 Thiessen Polygon around school locations and straight lines to
each school...............................................................................................224
Figure 8.17 Plotting the nearest neighbours for girls and boys secondary
schools......................................................................................................228
Figure 8.18 Students access analysis in Oraija Municipality.................................231
Figure 8.19 Distribution of secondary girls and boys schools by using
weighted method.....................................................................................237
Figure 8.20 Distribution of secondary girls and boys schools by using the
unweighted method.................................................................................240
Figure 8.21 The final distribution of schools and their catchment areas in
Oraija........................................................................................................241
Figure 8.22 Comparison of average distance travelled for secondary schools
using weighted and unweighted methods................................................243
IX