Conclusion of the Learning Through Play competition: A Saudi achievement with the participation of 719,000 students
The Saudi Ministry of Education concluded its Learning Through Play competitionwith a grand ceremony attended by prominent figures, including His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Safi Electronic Games Group, and His Excellency the Minister of Education, Mr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Bunyan. This pioneering initiative is the culmination of concerted efforts to integrate entertainment with education and create an interactive environment that encourages students to innovate and be creative in the field of modern technology.
Digital transformation in Saudi education: The roots of the initiative
This initiative was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a natural extension of the comprehensive digital transformation that Saudi Arabia has been undergoing since the launch of Vision 2030. Historically, in recent years, the Kingdom has focused on modernizing its education system, shifting from traditional methods to interactive, technology-based approaches. This trend was further reinforced with the launch of the National Strategy for Gaming and Esports, which aims to position the Kingdom as a global hub for this sector by 2030. Hence, the critical need to integrate the education and gaming sectors has emerged, to cultivate a generation equipped with 21st-century skills and capable of transforming abstract ideas into tangible technological projects that keep pace with rapid global advancements.
Record-breaking figures reflect the passion of the rising generation
The first edition of the competition witnessed exceptional and unprecedented engagement, with over 719,000 middle and high school students from across the Kingdom participating. This massive response resulted in the submission of more than 155,000 creative ideas for designing educational video games. This overwhelming participation clearly reflects the passion of Saudi youth for technology and underscores the success of the Ministry of Education in providing a free space for creativity and skills development, as noted by the Deputy Minister of Education for General Education, Dr. Saad Al-Harbi, who emphasized that education has become a genuine platform for transforming ideas into promising opportunities.
The overall impact of the success of the Learning Through Play competition
The strategic importance of the Learning Through Play competition extends far beyond its role as a student competition, impacting multiple levels. Locally, the competition helps cultivate young national talent and equips them with the tools and resources to create games, paving the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs and developers in the digital sector. Regionally, this initiative solidifies the Kingdom's position as a leader in educational innovation and technology in the Middle East. Internationally, strategic partnerships with global platforms like Roblox demonstrate the Kingdom's commitment to international standards, as the winning team will have the exceptional opportunity to transform their idea into a professional interactive game with the help of international developers.
Future steps towards innovative education
To sustain this success, the Ministry of Education explained that work is progressing rapidly to integrate these innovative educational games into the popular “My School” platform, in addition to incorporating game-based learning tools into the official curriculum in coordination with the National Center for Curricula. These integrated steps not only support entrepreneurship and training but also ensure the achievement of the objectives of the National Strategy for Games and Esports, and confirm that the Kingdom is moving steadily towards an educational future that combines enjoyment and benefit, and cultivates the leaders of the digital future.
