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The Ministry of Education outlined key provisions of the new general education law approved by royal decree on July 25, 2026, that establishes a General Education Affairs Council chaired by the minister and including representatives from the ministry, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and the private sector. This body will develop policies and strategies for the sector, oversee planning, set admission ages, regulate compulsory education, establish rules for teachers and address virtual schooling as well as the academic calendar. The law seeks to strengthen governance for public education, allocate necessary resources and improve the quality of the learning environment in alignment with broader national objectives for human capital development.
Compulsory education begins at the age of six and continues until age 15, the ministry stated, with authorities empowered to take legal action to ensure compliance while public schooling remains free of charge. Arabic will remain the principal language of instruction across general education although additional languages may be introduced where appropriate, and public schools will maintain gender separation after early childhood stages unlike private institutions. These elements build on longstanding practices while clarifying enforcement mechanisms for the first time in a dedicated statute.
Classroom-based learning will remain the primary mode of education even as the law recognizes the role of technology in instruction and expands opportunities for lifelong learning through digital platforms, distance options and self-paced programs. The ministry will create flexible educational tracks, specialized programs and vocational pathways aligned with labor market requirements, permitting student transfers between streams to accommodate individual needs and future employment trends. Such measures reflect ongoing efforts to adapt curricula to economic diversification priorities first articulated in national development plans.
Support for students with disabilities receives particular attention under the legislation, with provisions for tailored educational aids, specialized centers and continuity through digital means, while programs for gifted pupils include dedicated classes, separate schools, acceleration options and enrichment centers. The framework aims to ensure inclusive access across all learner categories as part of the sector-wide reforms. Private and nonprofit operators gain clearer regulatory guidelines, with the ministry authorized to extend financial or in-kind assistance when conditions are met.
Private schools will face stricter quality assurance requirements and must obtain accreditation from the Education and Training Evaluation Commission or an internationally recognized body, the ministry explained, while the authorities will regulate licensing, ownership changes and curricula with a requirement that national subjects be taught. License applications must receive decisions within 30 days and appeals processes are available, tightening oversight of an expanding segment of the education market. Violations can result in warnings, suspension of admissions, fines ranging from SR5,000 to SR50,000 or outright license revocation.
Teachers receive guarantees of a supportive professional environment along with professional development opportunities and incentive structures, according to the law’s provisions. They will also be required to teach approved curricula, support students’ individual learning needs, promote creativity and innovation, identify gifted students, uphold national values and professional ethics, and participate in ongoing professional development. The regulations set clear expectations for performance while aiming to elevate the status of the teaching profession.
A comprehensive framework for addressing violations establishes penalties that include immediate removal from classrooms, financial sanctions, license revocation and dismissal in cases of misconduct, with mandatory reporting of violence and permanent bans for the most serious offenses. The ministry indicated that these disciplinary measures apply across both public and private settings to safeguard the educational environment. The law further delineates roles for all stakeholders to create a more structured and accountable system for general education nationwide.
