Saudi Arabia overhauls education system with landmark governance law

New Saudi education law changes how schools are governed, taught and regulated

Saudi Arabia has approved a comprehensive General Education Law that fundamentally restructures how the Kingdom manages its education system, introduces new safeguards for students and teachers, and expands opportunities for private sector involvement in one of the most significant education reforms under Vision 2030.

Issued by royal decree, the legislation establishes the first unified legal framework governing general education from early childhood through secondary school. The reforms aim to improve educational quality, strengthen institutional accountability and better prepare future generations for a rapidly changing economy.

Education Minister Yousef Al Benyan welcomed the law's approval, thanking King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for supporting a major milestone for the education sector. He said the legislation would modernise governance while creating a more efficient and integrated system capable of responding to future educational and labour market demands.

The new framework will govern a massive education system comprising approximately 30,000 public schools serving over 6 million students, supported by a teaching workforce exceeding 500,000. Education represents the second-largest sector of government spending in Saudi Arabia, with combined spending on health and education projected to exceed SAR 460 billion in 2026.

New governance structure and oversight mechanisms

Rather than focusing solely on classroom instruction, the legislation reorganises how the education sector will be managed. It establishes a General Education Affairs Council, chaired by the education minister, to coordinate long-term strategy, oversee national education policy and improve coordination among government bodies involved in the sector.

The council will supervise issues ranging from admission policies and teacher regulations to private schools, virtual education and the academic calendar. The reforms are part of the Human Capability Development Program under Vision 2030, which aims to improve the country's education system to create a highly-skilled population that can meet the needs of a 21st century knowledge-based labour market.

The legislation seeks to balance continuity with reform. Government education will remain free of charge, while compulsory schooling will continue from the age of six until 15. At the same time, authorities will have broader powers to intervene when children are denied access to compulsory education or leave school before completing the mandatory stages.

Digital transformation and flexible learning pathways

The reforms reflect Saudi Arabia's growing emphasis on educational flexibility and digital integration. While classroom learning remains the foundation of general education, the law formally incorporates digital technologies into teaching and expands the role of distance learning, electronic platforms and lifelong learning programmes. Government investment in digitisation of the education sector will continue in 2026, as Saudi Arabia integrates artificial intelligence and digital skills across K-12 and higher education through national frameworks coordinated by multiple agencies under Vision 2030.

Students will have greater flexibility in choosing educational pathways. The Ministry of Education will be able to introduce specialised academic and vocational tracks that better reflect labour market needs, while establishing clearer mechanisms for students to move between general, technical and vocational education.

Strengthening inclusion and support services

A significant portion of the legislation focuses on inclusion. Schools will be required to provide appropriate educational support for students with disabilities through specialised services, assistive technologies and tailored assessment methods.

The law also strengthens programmes for gifted students by expanding enrichment opportunities, specialist schools, teacher training and partnerships with universities and research institutions, while creating regulated pathways for exceptional students to progress more quickly through the education system.

Expanding private sector participation

Private education is expected to play a larger role under the new framework. The law introduces clearer licensing and accreditation requirements, strengthens oversight of school operators and establishes a more transparent regulatory environment intended to attract investment while maintaining educational standards.

The reforms come as Saudi Arabia's private school market was valued at USD 65.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 179.7 billion by 2034, growing at an annual rate of 11.91 percent. In 2024, the number of private schools reached over 7,337, an increase of 490 schools over 2023, with over 1 million students enrolled in private institutions.

Schools offering international curricula will remain subject to national curriculum requirements in areas related to Saudi identity and values. The demographic pressure driving education expansion is significant, with Saudi Arabia's school-age population increasing 2.5 percent annually and projected to reach 7.2 million by 2030, requiring 1.2 million additional seats.

Professional development and accountability for teachers

The legislation strengthens the professional status of teachers by guaranteeing access to professional development, improved working conditions and performance-based incentives. These provisions address a critical challenge, as 62 percent of lower secondary school principals in Saudi Arabia reported shortages of qualified teachers in 2018, well above the OECD average of 21 percent.

In return, teachers will be expected to deliver approved curricula, respond to individual student needs, encourage creativity and innovation, identify gifted learners and uphold professional and ethical standards.

Alongside these incentives, the law introduces tougher accountability measures across the education sector. Educational institutions and staff found to have violated regulations could face disciplinary action, including financial penalties, suspension from duties or licence revocation in serious cases. Individuals convicted of offences involving dishonesty or moral misconduct will be prohibited from working in education, while incidents of violence affecting schools must be reported to the relevant authorities.

Family engagement and implementation timeline

The reforms also aim to strengthen the role of families in the educational process, recognising parents as partners in supporting students' academic development and wellbeing from early childhood through graduation.

The Ministry of Education said it will work with other government agencies to prepare the executive regulations needed to implement the legislation, completing what officials describe as the legal foundation for the next phase of Saudi Arabia's education transformation. The reforms build on strong foundations, with Saudi Arabia having achieved near-universal primary education access, with adjusted net enrollment rates reaching 99.5 percent in 2012 and maintaining overall literacy rates of 98 percent as of 2020.