Education in Saudi Arabia: a silent revolution for progress
Reinventing the education system
Vision 2030, driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmane, places education at the heart of national development. The ambitious goal is to transform the entire education system in order to produce more home-grown talent. To achieve this, there are two main avenues: improving the quality of education and creating opportunities for the younger generation. To this end, structuring initiatives have been launched, notably the National Transformation Program (NTP), which aims to align educational programs with the needs of the job market. Indeed, Saudi Arabia wishes to promote an education that is not limited to the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, but emphasizes practical skills adapted to the realities of the world of employment. One of the most interesting aspects of this evolution is the integration of new technologies into learning. The kingdom has invested heavily in digital education, with e-learning platforms that offer students flexibility in learning and enable knowledge to be disseminated more widely. By 2029, the e-learning platform market is expected to have 5.7 million users, with a penetration rate of 14.2%, compared with 12.3% in 2025.
Towards a more diversified and inclusive model
The Saudi education system has long been based on centralized education, with a majority of public schools and a strong religious influence in school programs. Today, the approach is evolving towards a diversification of educational models through the growth of private and international schools. In this context, new programs are also emerging, such as Noor, set up by the Ministry of Education to facilitate school management with a dedicated platform. This digitalization of school administration is part of a drive to maximize the efficiency of the education system. In addition, the diversification of the type of school also means opening up to new educational programs and therefore a diversity of courses on offer. Among international schools in Saudi Arabia, 18% follow the American curriculum, 16% adopt the British model, while 6.2% offer the International Baccalaureate. This diversification enables families to choose a path that suits their children's aspirations, and reinforces the country's attractiveness to expatriates and foreign talent. Another of the Kingdom's major changes is the reform of school textbooks. A report published by IMPACT-se highlights the efforts made to promote tolerance and inter-religious dialogue in education. The removal of negative references to certain communities, and the emphasis placed on peace and mutual understanding, demonstrate a willingness to open up and adapt to a globalized world.
A job market for national talent
One of the major challenges facing Saudi Arabia is not only to train a skilled workforce, but also to offer them concrete opportunities for integration into the national economy. Until recently, the Saudi labor market was entirely dominated by foreign workers, leaving little opportunity for local talent. The Saudi government has therefore set about creating an economic environment conducive to the employment of local Saudis. One of the key strategies adopted by the government is to promote access to finance and capital for young entrepreneurs and startups. Saudi Arabia has launched a number of investment funds and support programs for emerging companies, with the aim of boosting its economic ecosystem. Initiatives such as Monshaat, the Saudi SME Authority, provide financial support, training and coaching to entrepreneurs wishing to launch or develop their projects. Also, thanks to technology and entrepreneurship, Saudi Arabia is striving to foster an innovative ecosystem, enabling local talent to get involved in cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing and cybersecurity. At the same time, labor market reforms have been put in place to encourage local hiring. Employment quotas for Saudis have been introduced in several sectors, and the government has reviewed work visa policies to encourage companies to prioritize national talent. In addition, tax incentives and hiring subsidies have been deployed to encourage companies to recruit.
Saudi Arabia has embarked on a major overhaul of its education system, a colossal undertaking that reflects the country's ambitions in terms of development and innovation. Massive investment, increasing digitalization and openness to new pedagogical models reflect a determination to offer quality education adapted to the realities of the Saudi market. The kingdom is not limiting itself to cosmetic modernization. It is seeking to shape a new generation of educated citizens, open to the world and ready to meet the challenges of our society. This transformation, although recent, is already producing results and points to a future in which education will be an essential driver of the country's economic and social progress.
Sources :
https://www.arabnews.fr/node/501300/%C3%A9conomie
https://internationalschooling.org/fr/blog/evolution-of-education-in-saudi-arabia
https://icibeyrouth.com/articles/236099/reforme-scolaire-en-arabie-saoudite-tolerance-et-dialogue
