The Saudi government plans to build 31 new technical education institutions in Makkah province at an investment of SR1.3 billion ($346 million) through its Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), said a report.

The TVTC in co-operation with the Ministry of Education plans to encourage 32 per cent of high school graduates to join its programmes, reported the Saudi Gazette.

The corporation had opened 45 branches of technical colleges in different regions to provide training to young Saudis in their hometowns. It also equipped 13 colleges to offer bachelor programmes besides employing 864 Saudi trainers and 50 expatriate trainers.

The corporation has trained 45,600 students in telecommunication jobs. The training was offered to both men and women to help Saudization of the sector, stated the report, citing a senior official.

"By 2020 they hope to train 950,000 males and females in various technical and vocational trades," revealed Faisal Kadasa, the governor of the TVTC.

Kadasa pointed out that several other training programs were under way to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.

Work is also in full swing at the second technical college for girls in Jeddah where 83 per cent of the project haas already been completed, he added.