Saudi education reforms will introduce flexible teacher working hours, wider AI use and thousands of staff promotions. Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan announced the measures at Princess Nourah University in Riyadh on Monday.
The reforms will affect teacher responsibilities, professional development, administrative systems and student support. They also form part of Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts under Vision 2030.
Al-Benyan said teachers remain central to improving education quality and supporting students. He also highlighted the importance of national identity, Arabic language skills and Saudi Arabia’s history.
The ministry will prohibit teachers from teaching subjects outside their professional specializations. Officials said the measure protects students’ access to qualified instruction.
The ministry will also change how schools manage teacher attendance and working hours. A revised “Hudoori” system will connect working schedules with each school’s operational requirements.
Under this approach, schools will determine schedules according to daily needs and planned activities. Teachers will complete lessons, grading, supervision and other assigned duties within those schedules.
Once teachers complete their scheduled responsibilities, they can leave according to school arrangements. The system will therefore replace a single standard schedule with greater flexibility.
Saudi education reforms also include a major professional development programme for teachers. The Human Capability Development Program will support training for more than 240,000 male and female teachers.
Around 60,000 teachers from that group received training during the past year. The ministry plans to continue professional development across different education stages.
The ministry also announced more than 37,500 promotions for education employees. More than 28,000 educational staff will receive promotions, while 9,500 administrative employees will advance.
The ministry expects to issue those promotions during the next month. The move will provide additional professional advancement opportunities across education institutions.
Artificial intelligence will also play a larger role in Saudi schools. Saudi Arabia designated 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence.”
The Education Ministry has partnered with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence. It has also partnered with Saudi AI company Humain on an AI technology pilot.
Officials expect AI tools to reduce administrative and operational workloads. Al-Benyan said technology should allow teachers to focus more closely on students.
The ministry has also accelerated textbook distribution ahead of the new academic year. More than 36 million textbooks reached schools before the summer break.
Officials said schools previously received textbooks around two weeks before each academic year. This year, supply-chain improvements helped deliver materials considerably earlier.
Tatweer worked with the ministry on improving textbook supply chains. Saudi postal service SPL also helped deliver 60,000 books directly to students’ homes.
The ministry said this initiative aims to improve services for students and parents. Faster distribution should also give schools more time to prepare for academic activities.
Early childhood education remains another major priority. Saudi Arabia aims to raise early education enrollment from 35 percent to 90 percent by 2030.
The ministry links this target to broader efforts to improve learning outcomes from an early age. It also plans additional educator training through cooperation with government agencies.
Saudi education reforms also include measures supporting gifted students. Around 4,000 teachers have received training to identify gifted students.
More than 45,000 students have enrolled in specialised schools serving gifted learners. The ministry continues to expand programmes supporting students with exceptional academic abilities.
Saudi students and educators have also recorded international achievements. Seventy-two teachers received local or international awards during the previous year.
Students meanwhile won more than 400 local and international awards. Around 70 percent of Saudi scholarship students gained admission to universities ranked among the world’s top 50.
Al-Benyan highlighted teacher performance as an important factor in advancing education quality. He said the ministry would continue investing in professional development and education services.
The reforms combine workforce development, technology adoption and operational changes across Saudi schools. They also connect education policies with broader national development objectives.
For teachers, new schedules and professional development programmes could change daily working practices. AI tools may also reduce administrative tasks and create more time for student support.
For students, subject-specialisation rules aim to ensure qualified teachers deliver classroom instruction. Earlier textbook distribution should also improve readiness before academic terms begin.
Saudi education reforms will continue developing alongside national plans for human-capital development. The ministry’s next steps include further teacher training, AI implementation and staff promotions.
The government also plans to expand early childhood enrollment before 2030. Together, these initiatives place education quality, technology and workforce development at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s education strategy.
