Saudi Arabia enacts new public education law with clear rights and penalties

The official gazette Umm Al-Qura has published Saudi Arabia’s new public education law, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for education in the Kingdom through grade twelve. The law defines the responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and the General Education Affairs Council, regulates the operation of public, private, and virtual educational institutions, and sets out the rights and duties of students and teachers, as well as mechanisms for oversight, violations, and penalties.

The law consists of nine chapters and 68 articles, and will come into effect 180 days after its publication in the official gazette, repealing any conflicting provisions.

Public education from preschool to grade twelve

The law expands the definition of public education to include nursery, kindergarten, and grades one through twelve. Early childhood is defined as education and care from the start of nursery until the end of grade three.

Virtual educational institutions are now part of the public education system, including licensed government or private electronic platforms offering educational services at any stage.

The law also defines specialized centers serving specific groups, such as students with disabilities and gifted students, as well as private educational institutions owned by the private or non-profit sectors.

Education is a right for all and free in public schools

The law affirms that public education is a right for everyone and is provided free of charge in government institutions.

Compulsory education is set from age six to fifteen. The Ministry of Education, in coordination with relevant authorities, is required to take legal action against anyone who deprives a child of education or causes them to drop out during this period.

This provision directly protects children’s right to education, ensuring that school attendance and continuation are not left to family discretion or circumstances.

Arabic as the primary language and mandatory foreign language instruction

The law stipulates that Arabic is the primary language of instruction in public education, with the possibility of teaching in another language under regulations set by the General Education Affairs Council.

At the same time, learning at least one foreign language and developing its basic skills is among the objectives of public education.

Mastery of Arabic, pride in the language, strengthening national identity, and knowledge of the Kingdom’s history, geography, and symbols are also emphasized as core educational pillars.

Religious, national, and moral development for students

The law outlines a broad set of goals for public education, foremost among them instilling Islamic faith, promoting values derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah, and fostering pride in Islam.

Other objectives include strengthening loyalty and obedience to national leadership, fostering patriotism, adherence to regulations, and affirming the family’s role as the foundation of society.

The law also stresses the importance of promoting values of tolerance, peace, coexistence, and respect for human rights, as well as raising students’ intellectual awareness and ability to resist deviant ideologies.

Countering misinformation and developing media literacy

Notably, the law calls for enabling students to engage critically with media content in all forms, and to develop creative and critical thinking, logical analysis, and problem-solving skills.

The law also aims to enhance students’ research, innovation, and invention abilities, as well as their skills in communication, public speaking, and building positive human relationships.

Education is also linked to lifelong learning skills, a love of work, discipline, productivity, health and nutrition awareness, sports, volunteering, and community service.

Separate girls’ schools after early childhood

The law provides that girls’ schools, after the early childhood stage, must be independent from boys’ schools.

Exceptions may be made for some private educational institutions, according to regulations set by the General Education Affairs Council and approved by the Council of Ministers.

General Education Affairs Council chaired by the Minister of Education

The law establishes a General Education Affairs Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, with members including the Deputy Minister for General Education and several deputy ministers from the ministries of economy and planning, human resources and social development, finance, culture, sports, investment, and health, as well as the President of the Education and Training Evaluation Commission.

The council also includes four education experts, including representatives from the private and non-profit sectors, appointed by the Prime Minister for a renewable three-year term.

Extensive powers for the council

The council is responsible for approving plans, policies, and strategies related to public education, determining the age of admission, and proposing changes to the compulsory education years.

It also approves conditions and regulations for hiring teachers, including requirements for teaching outside their specialties, financial benefits, and professional standards.

The council further approves regulations for private and virtual educational institutions, specialized centers, educational consulting, and matters concerning students with disabilities and gifted students, as well as nursery and kindergarten stages.

Other powers include submitting the academic calendar to the Council of Ministers, approving rules for private schools to accept donations, and setting standards for financial or in-kind support the ministry may provide to the private education sector.

The council meets at least once every 90 days and may hold meetings and votes electronically, with some decisions made by circulation among members.

Specialized schools in programming, science, and the arts

The law authorizes the Ministry of Education to establish government schools, classes, or tracks specializing in areas such as the Qur’an, mathematics, science, technology, programming, the arts, and the humanities.

The ministry may also establish, merge, separate, or close public educational institutions as needed to achieve educational goals.

The ministry is responsible for setting rules for student transfers within Saudi Arabia and abroad, approving school uniforms, and preparing supervision, evaluation, safety manuals, and emergency plans.

School funds and investment in educational assets

The law permits the creation of school funds in public schools and education departments, to be regulated by the Ministry of Education in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry is also authorized to invest in and develop assets and properties allocated to public education for the sector’s benefit.

The ministry may delegate some of its powers to education departments and establish, merge, or abolish educational departments and offices as needed.

Education for Saudis abroad

The law requires the ministry to organize the provision of public education for Saudi students abroad, including children of diplomats, employees, and scholarship recipients, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It also emphasizes promoting a culture of volunteerism among students, teachers, and parents, and setting the necessary regulations for this.

Career pathways linked to the labor market

The law allows the Ministry of Education to establish vocational or specialized tracks within public education stages, aligned with labor market needs.

The ministry is also responsible for setting mechanisms for student transfers between public education tracks and between these and technical or vocational specializations overseen by other bodies.

This opens the door to developing more specialized academic tracks linked to future professional and economic requirements.

Early detection of developmental and behavioral disorders

The law requires the ministry, in coordination with relevant authorities, to implement programs for early detection of developmental or behavioral disorders and to take appropriate health, social, and educational measures for each case.

It also affirms the integration of students with disabilities into educational institutions and the provision of supportive and adaptive educational tools and technologies to facilitate their learning.

Where integration is not possible, the ministry will provide specialized centers and programs, as well as develop digital and distance learning programs to ensure continued education for this group in all circumstances.

Supporting gifted students and accelerating advancement for high achievers

The law obligates the ministry to develop programs to identify, support, and nurture gifted students through special classes or schools and enrichment centers.

Clear criteria for identifying gifted students, teacher training, and partnerships with universities and research centers are also mandated.

The law allows for accelerated advancement of high-achieving students to higher educational stages, under comprehensive evaluation to ensure their continued excellence and adaptation.

In-person learning as the foundation

The law states that in-person learning is the basis at all stages of public education, with the use of e-learning technologies permitted as part of in-person education under approved regulations.

It also provides for continuous education and lifelong learning programs through electronic means, distance learning, and neighborhood centers, developing both synchronous and asynchronous education and self-learning.

Free textbooks and national and international assessments

The Ministry of Education, in coordination with the National Curriculum Center, is responsible for providing free textbooks to all institutions following the government curriculum.

The law requires schools to implement national and international assessments conducted by the Education and Training Evaluation Commission.

Private educational institutions must obtain school accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission or an internationally recognized body.

Expanding private sector and foreign investment participation

The law opens the door for greater participation by the private and non-profit sectors and foreign investment in public education.

It encourages investment in establishing private educational institutions, offering diverse operational models and educational options, and requires private schools to teach approved national identity subjects.

The ministry may also provide financial, in-kind, developmental, or human resources support to private educational institutions and may assign the management or operation of some public educational institutions to the private or non-profit sector.

The law also allows for the allocation of some public educational land or buildings to the private sector, including foreign investors, for management or operation.