Despite these advantages the scale of the task was awesome. Prince Fahd had to contend with the natural resistance of a nomadic or agricultural people to the introduction of a formal, modern, structured educational system. In addition, the implementation of such an educational system had to be reconciled with the traditional religious education which the Ulema provided for Muslim scholars and students. Above all, the sheer size of the country, the absence of qualified teachers and the general lack of educational facilities posed a challenge that would give even the most dynamic and competent organizer pause for thought.