Saudi Arabia will spend SR5 billion ($1.332 billion) on training about 25,000 schoolteachers abroad, under a SR80 billion education revamp plan approved by King Abdullah recently, a report said.

The Arab News report quoted Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal as saying that a high-level committee will supervise the implementation of the project.

Under the project, 1,500 nurseries will be built to benefit 150,000 students and 3,500 new female teacher jobs will also be created.

He also announced plans to establish 16 hospitals to provide health services to employees of Education and Higher Education Ministries and their families.

Prince Khaled said SR1.2 billion will be spent on a computer system to meet e-education requirements of schools, while SR1.19 billion has been allocated to school workshops and smart classrooms, the report said.