Schools across Riyadh are set to come under a new national framework after Saudi Arabia approved a General Education Law covering learning from early childhood through secondary school.
Issued by royal decree, the legislation brings public and private education, digital learning, teacher responsibilities, student rights and specialist study pathways under one legal structure. It also creates a General Education Affairs Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, to coordinate policy and long-term planning across the sector.
The changes will not appear inside classrooms overnight. The Ministry of Education is still preparing the regulations needed to put the law into practice, and the legislation will take effect 180 days after its publication in the official gazette.
Government education will remain free, while compulsory schooling continues from the age of six to 15. Classroom teaching remains the foundation of the system, but schools will have a clearer legal basis for using digital tools and e-learning as part of in-person education.
Students could also see a wider range of routes through school. The ministry will be able to develop academic, technical and vocational pathways linked more closely to labour-market needs, with clearer ways for students to move between them. That flexibility supports the wider Vision 2030 goal of preparing young people for an economy that requires a broader mix of skills.
Inclusion is another major part of the law. Schools will be expected to provide suitable learning support, assistive technology and adapted assessment for students with disabilities. Gifted learners are also covered through specialist programmes, enrichment opportunities and regulated routes for faster progression.
Teachers are guaranteed access to professional development and suitable working conditions, while carrying clearer responsibilities around approved curricula, individual student needs and professional conduct. Students have the right to a safe learning environment, protection from harm and a formal way to raise concerns.
The law is also significant for Riyadh’s large private and international school sector. It introduces clearer licensing and accreditation requirements, allows wider private, non-profit and foreign participation, and maintains national curriculum expectations connected to Saudi identity.
For families and schools, the next important step will be the publication of the executive regulations. Those details will show how one of the Kingdom’s most substantial education reforms will move from legislation into everyday school life.
