Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz approved on Friday Saudi Arabia’s public education system to enhance its governance framework, provide the necessary enablers to achieve its targets, and elevate the quality of the educational environment and its outcomes, while regulating the roles of the private and non-profit sectors in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said that the approval represents significant support for the development of public education in Saudi Arabia.
It boosts the efficiency of its regulatory and operational system, he noted, adding that the new regulations extend the sector's transformation, support its personnel, and contribute to improving institutional performance.
Under the new system, a council for public education affairs will be established to approve policies and regulations, including those governing students, teachers, and educational institutions, ensuring the sector's governance. The council will also contribute to strengthening the principle of national partnership in development.
The system enhances governance by defining the roles of the Ministry of Education, the council, and relevant authorities to support the alignment of educational policies, plans, and programs, improve decision-making efficiency, and enable the ministry to develop regulatory, monitoring, and oversight tools for the sector.
The system also supports the development of public education across all stages by allowing the ministry to develop educational program plans, regulate student transitions between them, and introduce specializations aligned with labor market needs.
It also established specialized schools or classes in diverse fields, such as the Holy Quran, mathematics, science, technology, programming, arts, and humanities.
The step helps in supporting and creating an attractive investment environment in education by regulating the participation of the private and non-profit sectors in providing and improving services and deepening investment attractiveness and partnerships according to clear regulations.
This aims to raise quality, expand options, and sustain the development of public and private educational institutions.
The system emphasizes the protection of human rights in education, students, and teachers, alongside providing a safe and stimulating educational environment to support the quality of the process and improve the experience for male and female students, while reinforcing the family's role in supporting this journey.
It also supports the quality of care and education in early childhood, aligning with the importance of the early years in building a child's personality and skills.
Additionally, it provides educational and support services more tailored to the needs of students with disabilities within institutions, and developing the capabilities of gifted individuals.
The ministry will work in coordination with relevant authorities to finalize the executive and regulatory provisions to ensure its implementation according to a clear methodology, supporting the objectives of developing public education and raising the efficiency of its outcomes.
The new system includes regulatory provisions governing education stages, the council, educational institutions and pathways, e-learning and continuing education, the educational environment, and the rights of students and teachers.
