Saudi Arabia Announces Major Education Reforms With Flexible Teacher Hours and 37,500 Promotions
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has unveiled a sweeping set of education reforms for the upcoming school year, including flexible working hours for teachers based on individual school needs, a strict ban on educators teaching outside their specializations, and more than 37,500 promotions for educational and administrative staff.
The reforms were announced by Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan at Princess Nourah University on Monday. “The teacher is a fundamental pillar in education,” he said, emphasizing that the new General Education System reflects the government’s commitment to supporting the education ecosystem.
Under the revised “Hudoori” attendance system, working hours will be based on each school’s daily schedule and operational plan rather than a single standard start and end time. Once teachers complete all scheduled duties—including lessons, grading, and supervision—they will be free to go home.
The ministry also confirmed that teachers will not be permitted to teach subjects outside their specialization, ensuring students receive quality education. Promotions for more than 28,000 educational staff and 9,500 administrative staff are scheduled for the coming month.
With 2026 designated as the Year of Artificial Intelligence in Saudi Arabia, the ministry is implementing AI tools to reduce administrative burdens on teachers and students through partnerships with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence and the Saudi AI company Humain.
In early childhood education, the ministry aims to increase enrollment from 35 percent to 90 percent by 2030. More than 240,000 teachers will be trained under the Human Capability Development Program, with 60,000 already trained in the past year.
Al-Benyan also noted that 36 million textbooks were delivered to schools before the summer break, improving supply chains compared with previous years, when books arrived two weeks before the academic year began. “I bet on teachers in the Kingdom,” he said. The reforms align with Saudi Vision 2030 goals of raising education quality and global competitiveness.
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