The Saudi government will build and operate a total of 1,600 schools across the kingdom under a special project in partnership with the private sector enterprises.

In the first phase, a total of 60 schools will come up in Makkah and Jeddah in all the general educational levels, reported The Saudi Gazette.

The largest project of its kind for the construction of school buildings, it will see a mix of kindergartens and primary, intermediate and secondary schools for both boys and girls being built in these cities, stated the report.

It has been approved by Saudi King Salman, the Council of Economic Affairs and Development and the Ministry of Finance and will be supervised by the ministers of finance and economy and planning, the report said, citing the education minister.

Ahmed Al Issa was speaking at a major conference on the investment opportunities available in the partnership with the ministry to construct school buildings.

"We hope that the project will lure the investors and businessmen to participate with us not only in this project but also in all the other projects which will soon be announced," said Al Issa.

"We are aiming at supplementing the direct government support for the school buildings by the partnership with the private sector in the construction and operation of the schools," he added.