The Role of Continuous Education Programs Organized by Saudi Universities in Literacy — A Case Study of King Saud University

This study aims at highlighting the role of Continuous Education Programs at the Saudi Universities in Religious, Social, and Health Literacy; King Saud University was taken as an example. To achieve the goals of the study two questionnaires were distributed among two samples from King Saud University; (101) of students, and (9) of continuous education centers’ directors. Results showed that continuous education programs presented in religious awareness development do not contribute sufficiently in developing them. However; continuous education programs have favorable role in community’s social culturing. Also, continuous education programs contribute, at medium degree, in community’s health culturing. On the other hand; people in charge agree that the investment revenue in financing continuous education programs is minor as well as financing offered by the University. In light of the study results, the researchers recommended paying more attention to present more continuous education programs of concern as to individuals’ needs through cooperation with the research center in the University to perform survey studies targeted to define the individuals’ needs in terms of religious, social and health issues.


Introduction and Background
Continuous education is considered as a particular education in terms of enabling concerned parties to compete within international economy to decrease the poverty rates in their areas.The developing countries fail to support education opportunities since the gap in building skills and using modern techniques shall continue to expand and grow between developed and developing countries (Putnam, 2001).Continuous education is not limited to adults, but it includes children at all age stages.The continuous education is based on two philosophies; advanced philosophy, which is based on transferring the cultural and social infrastructures to enhance the social changes and offering the learner practical knowledge and problem solving skills to reform their communities.The pioneer of this philosophy-John Dewi-assured the continuous education importance as it aims at achieving all the learners' needs.On the other hand, the traditional philosophy believes in developing the mind's intellectual capacities to prepare an individual learner for intellectual, moral and spiritual sphere (Kumar, 2012).
Illiteracy is one of the important issues that face the educational, cultural, political, health and environmental challenges.It represents a dilemma, which faces the worldwide countries in general, and the Arab countries in particular.As a reality, there are 7750 million illiterates around the world (Hammer, 2010).Such issue affects vocational, social and financial status of individuals.Many studies tackled the negative effect of illiteracy; for example the results of The Australian Industry Group's study (2010); which was conducted on 338 companies, where 65,000 employees are working in; showed that 75% out of the employees suffer from illiteracy and thus they did not acquire promotions in their work.The foregoing worked to force employers to waiver some standards in promotions and admissions and replacement.This, indeed, impacts the work productivity, and the study therefore, addressed recommendations to raise the illiterate employees' efficiency through specific literate programs.
Continuous education programs at universities should play an obvious role in assisting the individuals to develop themselves, keeping up all new changes, updates and taking part in fighting all what impede community development; such as all types of illiteracy.The foregoing inspired universities to establish community service centers and continuous education that are engaged in edification through lectures which tackle social, economic, political; local, regional and international subjects, in addition to other subjects of concern as to individual and family problems, as well as scientific and technological subjects.The programs set out by the universities are variable such as languages, secretarial, science basis, and psychological health and auto mechanics programs (Said, 1990).
Furthermore, religious education occupies distinguished stand and special interest by the community individuals, at some communities.The foregoing worked to lade religious edification and eliminate religious illiteracy's burden over universities through programs and strategies conducted by specialists in religious sphere.These programs aim to treat the contemporary issues, renew the contemporary religious speech, correcting the faulty religious thoughts, all of which worked to eliminate the extremist religious thought.The most important means that contribute in circulating the extremist ideology are; Internet, social interconnection means, extremists' key leaders' advice, and religious strict sermons and lectures.
From this point, the programs addressed by the university and targeted broadcasting programs are considered of great influence as to disregard extremism.Fuad (1998) referred to high portion of listeners of such programs among university students in Egypt.The study of Ghareeb (2005) has supported this conclusion in terms of a program which is transmitted via Satellite channels (Read Channel) which tackles religious subjects.Besides, Al Sallal (2012) observed the impact of the Kuwaiti satellite channels' role in enhancing citizenship issue and disregard extremism among Kuwaiti Youth and Arabs' original values as well.He noticed that such channels work moderately to deepening Islam accurate and continuous values moderately.
In our Arab communities we can notice individuals' needs as to know-how in respect of subjects which are not covered, or covered at insufficient manner, in the fundamental education.The most important subjects that the communities may contribute therein are to offer health education for its individuals.Health education represents important sphere that operates to realize health concept through publicizing health awareness and culture.Further it seeks providing individuals with accurate health information in parallel with urging them to adopt positive behaviors.Moreover, the forgoing leads to translate the familiar facts into modes and healthy behaviors, at the individual and community levels, by using modern methods of education (Rashad, 2000;Abdel-Majeed 2012).Therefore, a number of studies tackled the importance of publicizing the health awareness among various communities.Such studies referred to low awareness and health culture among elderly people.For example; Terry and Woodroffe's (2013) study requires intervention to raise the health culture level among community.Such community category lacks health culture that causes increasing emergency cases in hospitals, weak acceptance to preventive interventions, consequently death cases increase.Loos (2013) noticed shortages in Benchmarks at some communities in terms of health culture; he conducted a study to find out the effect of parents' knowledge on how to deal with children fever on reducing emergency cases in hospitals.
Social educating scope and individuals' efficiency to learn life and vocational skills are concerned as major communicative programs among societies all over the world.Baro (2013) discussed the necessity to educate students with the continuous education skill independently before graduating from University.In order to prepare the student awareness of Informative knowledge, he/she should have the ability to determine when they need such information, and have the ability to determine, evaluate, and use these needed information effectively.
Al Saadat (2004) figured out how continuous education and community service center at the Technological College in Al Ihsaa, could meet community and individuals needs from the teaching committee's point of view.Such study outcomes revealed that community service center and continuous education in that college meet community and individuals' needs through facilitating registration procedures in educational and training programs.On the other hand, the center awareness of the community needs facilitates planning for programs in a way to correspond with community and individuals domains.Moreover, the industrial training is addressed by the center to community individuals depending on local market demands.Besides, Belonozhko and Khitu (2006) conducted a study in which a selected sample from two groups; Americans and Russians, revealed that 109 persons are registered in various programs of community service in Phoenix University and 102 persons from Russia are registered in community service programs in TSUPG University.The main motive of both groups was to acquire knowledge.Kunstler (2000) prepared a study on FRESH project for old people health, which was applied jointly by governmental university and local center, serving old black people and persons of Latin origins.This program was designed to supply fixed training consisting of 10 recreational sessions and swimming programs by using the college facilities.For the purpose of encouraging old people to participate in fitness activities and expanding their engagement in recreational programs connected therewith, certain applications and planning strategies were followed.Also an evaluation was carried out by participants and project team.Old people said that they crossed beyond their original goals, which urged them to participate therein, and two third of the selected sample participated, after the experiment.
From this point the current study tried to clarify the important role of continuous education centers at Saudi Universities in general and at King Saud University as a model.It highlights their importance in raising health awareness, religious culture, and occupational and personal development through presented programs.These programs are adapted to satisfy the served local environment needs, designing projects based on such needs, raising the community individuals' awareness in a way to prepare such programs to work as preventive factor against various environmental, cultural and economic risks.

Problem
Illiteracy witnesses an increasing domain during these days.The exerted efforts employed in facing illiteracy with all its financial and human capacities did not have room except for 2% of the current balance of Illiterates in The Arab World.On the other hand, those who passed illiteracy programs do not exceed 1% thereof per annum.Notwithstanding the set out strategies on both levels; global and Arab, to eliminate the illiteracy, but such strategies are still under trapped actions and decisions which work to disrupt their required role (Al Rawaf, 2008).
Whereas the Universities are an effective changes' mean, they work to offer assistance in forming a scientific view to prepare people for accepting changes within community philosophy, value and culture.Such job sprints from the fact that the university ought to represent a scientific and cultural core within the community.That role could be played through opening to the local community, strengthening links therewith, offering consultations, contributing in solving its problems, helping the community to employ its natural resources through supplying trained manpower.Thus the university could not isolate itself away from the current social problems, but on the contrary, it has to develop its services offered to public outside the university campus (Miqdadi, 2006) Starting from this point, many developed countries worked to develop its universities to serve its communities.For example; since three decades, four universities in California-United States of America started offering services to the local communities such as consultations, continuous educational programs, conducting various courses for learners, urging teaching members to establish fruitful relations with the community.On the other hand, in South Korea the Ministry of Health and some charitable societies with a number of universities offered health and social care programs for disabled individuals and elderly people.More over; Polytechnics in Singapore started to present programs connected with community service programs; i.e.Electrical, marine Engineering and else (Ammar, 2009).
In the Arab world, various studies such as a study prepared by (Rawwaf, 2014), handled the absence of planning as to continuous education programs in the Arab universities to serve their communities.This absence of such continuous programs worked, indeed, to weakening the communities' development and knowledge production.The researcher recommends strongly the need to enforce continuous education programs within its all modes at Saudi universities, which will be reflected positively to the Saudi society in different everyday life's needs.
Since the cognition explosion accelerated all over the world, and Illiteracy causes a dangerous damage in religious, health and social meanings among societies, this research tries to identify and highlight the role of universities through continuous education programs in educating the Saudi societies in terms of religious, health and social aspects.

Objectives
The main objective of the current study is to identify the continuous education programs' role offered by the Universities to raise the illiterates' awareness about religious, health and social culturing during the knowledge revolution era.A number of minor objectives are derived from the main objective of the study: 1) Identifying continuous education programs' real role, offered at King Saud University in terms of religious culturing.
2) Identifying continuous education programs' real role, offered at King Saud University in terms of social culturing.
3) Identifying Continuous education programs' real role, offered at King Saud University in terms of Health culturing.
4) Detecting challenges, which face continuous education program at King Saud University.

Questions
The main question raised in this study is: What is the continuous education program's role, offered by the Saudi Universities in terms of religious, social and health culturing (King Saudi University as a sample)?
The following minor questions are derived from the above question: 1) What is the continuous education program's role at King Saud University as to religious culturing?
2) What is the continuous education program's role at King Saud University as to social culturing?
3) What is the continuous education program's role at King Saud University as to Health culturing?
4) What are the challenges that face the continuous education program at King Saud University?

Study Importance
The research importance is due to the following aspects: 1) Continuous education and respective programs are important in observing religious, social and health culturing.
2) This study may be beneficial as to universities & community organizations in terms of cooperation and partnership to offer services to the community.
3) The study outcomes may work to draw a model that may assist the universities to activate social and health culturing through continuous education programs.

Study Terms
1) Role: means continuous education programs role at Saudi Universities handling religious, social and health culturing 2) Religious culturing: is the teaching religious matters in due course based on Qur'an and Authentic Sayings (Hadiths) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
3) Social culturing: raising children on terms of good communication to avoid the miss-use of communicative means.
4) Health culturing: means many health care matters such as bad nutrition habits, fat diseases, Herbals, teeth decay, etc.

Methodology
To achieve the goals of the study, the researchers followed the descriptive survey.The survey tries to find out the reality of the continuous education programs presented through King Saud University and their role in religious, social and health culturing.In addition, the survey is used to identify the obstacles that face these continuous education programs at the Saudi Universities.The results of the survey may help to set out suitable recommendations to develop the continuous education programs at the Saudi Universities in general and King Saud University in specific.

Community
The study community is consisted of (980) undergraduate students from the colleges of King Saud University.Also it consisted of (12) personnel employed in The Continuous Education Center of King Saud University.

Sample
A random sample of (101) students was chosen from King Saud University; (63) students represented the Human Colleges-62.38% of the total study sample-; (38) students represented the Scientific Colleges-37.62% of the total study sample.Master degree students were (89) rated at 88.12% of the total number of the sample while Doctorate degree students were 12, at 11.88% of total selected sample.As to gender, males were 35 at 34.65% while females were 66 rated at 65.35% In addition, a sample of (9) managers and employees in the Continuous Education Center of King Saud University was chosen randomly, as well.

Tools
Researches used two questionnaires: -A questionnaire distributed to graduate students, which include: religious culturing, social culturing and health culturing.
-A questionnaire distributed to managers and employees of continues education centers, which include: expenditure, participation and attendance and management.

Internal Reliability
The Internal reliability of the first questionnaire was calculated by applying it on all the sample's members.
Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between scores for each phrase and total domain score, and there was correlation coefficient between total score, for each domain of the questionnaire, and total questionnaire score.For such purpose the researchers used SPSS program to analyze data.From Pearson correlation coefficient in the four domains the researchers noticed a correlation between the phrases in the domain which was significant at (α ≥ 0.01).It was noticed that the total score of each domain is correlated with total score domain of the questionnaire which was significant at (α ≥ 0.01).
In addition, the Internal reliability of the second questionnaire was calculated.It was addressed to the workers in charge at the continuous Education Center of King Saud University.Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between the score of each phrase and the total domain's score that it belongs to.Also, the correlation coefficient was calculated between the total score of each domain and the total score of the questionnaire.It was clear from Pearson correlation coefficient in the four domains that there is a correlation among all phrases in the domain, which was significant at (α ≥ 0.01).

Validity
The 1 st .questionnaire's validity was calculated through applying it on all the sample's students using Cronbach Alpha coefficient.The questionnaire's validity was very high; Cronbach Alpha was (0.94-0.95).On the other hand, Cronbach Alpha coefficient of the whole questionnaire was (0.97).These numbers prove the questionnaire's validity.
The second questionnaire was prepared for the workers of the Continuous Education Center.Its validity was calculated after applying the questionnaire on all the sample's members Cronbach Alpha coefficient was (0.90, 096).This result shows a high validity of the questionnaire.

Data Analysis
Different statistical methods were used to achieve the goals of the current study: -Cronbach Alpha Coefficient to measure the questionnaire's validity.

Results and Discussion
This portion of the study is dedicated to present the results of the study.It contains answers of the study questions: 3

Question #2: What Is the Continuous Educational Program's Role at King Saud University in Terms of Social
Culturing?
To answer this question, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations of the sample's members in terms of continuous education role in social culturing at King Saud University were calculated and analyzed.Table 2 shows the results: Results of the second question which are presented in Table 2 show the fact that majority of the study sample do not know about Social culturing programs which are presented at King Saud University.Those who do not know are rated at 42.24% while the approvals are rated at 28.77% of the attendants.The disapprovals rate was 12.54%.
The foregoing refers to failure in declaring such programs in due course.In the same time those who attended were satisfied of such programs' contents and concepts.The least rate was unsatisfied as to the program contents.This assured the idea of Baro ( 2013) as he assured that the most programs that acquired the individuals' interest and concern are the social culturing programs since they are enabling them to learn many life skills.The reason behind satisfaction's high rates on social culturing programs compared with religious culturing is the relative rise of the religious culture in the community of Saudi Arabia which worked to reduce satisfaction rates on presented programs; especially such programs did not offer new subjects or treating contemporary causes on the light of religion principles.

Question #(3): What Is the Continuous Educational Program's Role at King Saud University in Terms of Health Culturing?
To answer this question, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations of the sample's members in terms of continuous education role in health culturing at King Saud University were calculated and analyzed.Table 3 shows the results: It is obvious from the results in Table3 that the sample's majority does not know about health culturing programs presented at the University.Those who do not know such programs are rated at 43.61% out of study sample, while approvals are rated at 39.81% of study sample individuals.Disapprovals are rated at 16.51%, which offers an indication that the programs presented by the University for post studies students in health culturing are considered good.But failure main reason is attributed to weak publishing and advertising circulated on such programs.

Question # (4): What Are the Challenges Facing the Continuous Education Programs at King Saud
University?
To answer this question, frequencies, percentages, and standard deviations of the rates of Continuous Education Center's challenges (expenditure, participation and attendance, management) from the perceptions of its Directors were calculated and presented in Table 4 and One of the challenges that face the continuous education center at King Saud University is expenditure.Table 4 shows that the education centers directors' main challenge that is facing the implementation of continuous education programs is the poor financing support, and thus the center depends on its self financing and limited financing from the University.They also agree that such programs offer service to the community.The Directors are also agreed on the fact that such centers are directed by fixed standards to assess the expenses connected to their programs, and if governmental financing is made available then this shall reduce their counting on financing resources.
Moreover, Table 4 shows that the major values of the standard deviation of expenditure sector are limited to 0.87, 1.48.The least standard deviation of the phrase (expenditure on educational programs is considered as a social service), whilst the largest value of the standard deviation for the phrase (The people in charge see that the investment revenue of financing the continuous education programs is minor).Table 5 results about the participation and attendance at continuous education programs showed that the center's directors agreed on the suitability of the programs' presentation times, and the attendants of such programs were within the expected limits in general.Also satisfactory percentage was considered.As to teaching committee and their participation in presenting such programs the approvals were rated at 52.77% whilst those of centers directors participations were 27.77%.However, 19.44 % of the study sample stated that they do not know the suitability extent as to presenting continuous education programs addressed to students.

Participation and Attendance
On the other hand, Phrase (Students attendance and targeted categories' rates are within expected limits (satisfactory) occupied the fourth and last degree of frequencies.This result may be attributed to the fact that the programs are not in line with students' needs and wishes.Moreover, standard deviation values showed that the majority of standard deviation values as to phrases of participation and attendance sector are limited between 1.09, 1.17.The least standard deviation of phrase (teaching team participation and attendance in addressing seminars and programs was satisfactory), the highest value of standard deviation of phrase (students and targeted categories attendance is within expected rates (within satisfactory limits)

Management
The Questionnaire directed to sample selected out of the continuous education centers' managers in the university showed about 50% approvals of the study sample to ensure the availability of: -Whether there is internal coordination with teaching members to address such programs -Whether the programs and seminars reflect scientific sides for all specialties.
-Availability of buildings and fittings to conduct seminars.
-Whether there is awareness campaigns directed to the students to bring them acquainted to the center programs.
-Moreover, What relating to stability extent, priorities and domains of the University, flexibility of the university rules which facilitate concluding such programs and seminars in these centers, group work concept clarity, and if the students and teacher requirements are fulfilled on the internet and social interconnection sites.
From reviewing the standard deviation values Table 5, it is obvious that most of standard deviation values of management sector are limited between 0.93-1.36.The least standard deviation was of the phrase (availability of incentives to encourage the students to attend such programs), while the highest standard deviation value was directed to phrase (there is clear strategy declared by the university on community service programs which facilitate programs' types and targeted categories' definition).

Summary
To sum up; the current study results showed that: -Continuous education programs presented in religious awareness development do not contribute sufficiently in developing them.
-Continuous education programs have favorable role in community's social culturing.
-Continuous education programs contribute moderately, in community's health culturing.
-People in charge agree that the investment revenue in financing continuous continuous education programs is minor as well as financing offered by the University.
-Students attendance and targeted categories rates in continuous education programs are considered minor -The people in charge view on the unavailability of suitable buildings, program context, students' incentives, rules and bylaws is considered challenges as to program role process.

Recommendations
In light of the results of this study the researchers recommend the following: 1) Paying attention to present more continuous education programs of concern as to individuals needs through cooperation with the research center in the University to perform survey studies targeted to define the individuals needs in terms of religious, social and health issues.
2) Benefiting of the teaching committee members in all sections and faculties to address the most possible and variable programs; religious, social and health.The foregoing could be achieved through allocating single day whereas the teaching committee members are free to work in the continuous education center. i.
Realizing partnership between the community service center and all governmental sectors therein to benefit of specialized human capacities located in such sectors. ii.
Establishing media committee reporting to continuous education center engaged in medial and publishing mission for the center programs routing all traditional and modern channels. iii.
Establishing private management responsible to follow up and assess programs and activities carried out by the continuous education center.
iv. Allocating special and independent budget for the continuous education center and set out them under the disposal of the center personnel without being connected to the University budget.

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Frequencies and percentages to describe sample individuals.-Standard Deviation to identify individuals' responses deviation extent for each phrase of the questionnaire Domains' phrases.Standard deviation clarifies distraction in the individuals' responses on each phrase, as far as the value is close to zero, the responses are concentrated and distraction falls.-PearsonCorrelation Coefficient to measure the questionnaire reliability.
campaigns as to continuous education programs.-Availability of declared strategy by the university works to facilitate determining programs' types and targeted categories, -flexibility in rules to facilitate programs' organizing and concluding issues -Stability in University Supreme Management priorities.-Suitability of teaching committee members rehabilitation level, -Availability of internal coordination among the center management and teaching committee members and clarity of group work concept.-Centersfulfillment for students and teacher's needs through developing community service sites in the internet & social interconnection sites.25.92% of the centers' managers who participated in the study declared their disapproval, especially to what belongs to clarity of the university strategy on community service programs and declaring them in a way to facilitate defining programs' types and targeted categories, and the presence of internal coordination between centers' managers and teaching committee members.The domain's outcomes refer to 24.57% out of participating centers' directors in the study stated their ignorance as to many points included in this domain, especially -Availability or otherwise of incentives which encourage the students to attend the center programs, -Whether the program contents are satisfactory or otherwise.

Table 1 .
.1 Question #1: What Is the Continuous Educational Program's Role at King Saud University in Terms of Religious Culturing?Results stated that the majority of the sample individuals do not know about such programs representing 81.51% out of study sample.However, 70.22% of program attendee indicated that the program did not satisfy their wish as to knowledge on religious causes, enhancing moderate medium thinking and defining entities who may offer help in terms of religious problems.Table1shows the frequencies, percentages, and standard deviation of the sample's individuals in terms of the role of continuous education in religious education at King Saud University.Frequencies, Percentages, standard deviation of the sample's members in terms of continuous education role in religious culturing at King Saud University Results in Table1confirm that most of Standard Deviation's values; as to continuous education programs role in the Universities, are limited between: (0.77, 1.14).The least standard deviation was on the phrase (The University launches training courses that develop awareness in Jurisprudence of calamity).This refers that the sample individuals agreed at major level on religious Muftis legal advice.Whilst subjects that urge for individual Jurisprudence, scrutiny & mental comparison with contemporary causes did not acquire high agreement rates among the sample individuals.

Table 2 .
Frequencies, percentages, standard deviation of the sample's members in terms of continuous education role in social culturing at King Saud University

Table 3 .
Frequencies, percentages, standard deviations of the sample's members in terms of the continuous education role in health culturing at King Saud University

Table 4 .
Frequencies, percentages, standard deviations of the continuous education center's expenditure from the perceptions of its directors

Table 5 .
Frequencies, percentages, standard deviations of the continuous education center's participation and attendance from the perceptions of its directors