Saudi Arabia Education System Changes & Policy Tracker
Saudi Arabia has a large, centrally coordinated education system covering general, vocational, and higher education. The system is shaped by national development priorities under Vision 2030, with attention to assessment quality, digital learning, technical skills, university performance, and access for Saudi and eligible non-Saudi learners.
Country Education Profile
| Official Name | Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| ISO Code | SA |
| Region | Asia |
| Subregion | Western Asia |
| Capital / Seat | Riyadh |
| Compulsory Education | Public education is free and compulsory in the general education cycle. Schooling normally begins at age 6 and includes primary and intermediate education, with secondary education completing the 12-year school pathway. |
| School Structure | General education is organized as pre-primary kindergarten, six years of primary education, three years of intermediate education, and three years of secondary education. Secondary education includes general and pathway-based options. |
| Academic Year | The school year usually begins in August or September and follows the Ministry of Education academic calendar, using Hijri and Gregorian dates. The 1447/1448 AH public school year begins in late August 2025, with regional scheduling details published by the ministry. |
| Main Exams | Key assessment bodies include the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and the National Center for Assessment, Qiyas. Major assessments include the General Aptitude Test, Scholastic Achievement Test, national school assessments, and school-based secondary examinations. |
| Higher Education | Higher education is overseen by the Ministry of Education and delivered through public universities, private universities, colleges, and specialized institutions. Quality assurance and accreditation functions are linked to the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, including the National Center for Academic Accreditation and Evaluation. |
| Vocational Education | Technical and vocational education is mainly organized through the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, which operates technical colleges, institutes, strategic partnership institutes, and training programs aligned with labor market needs. |
| Digital Education | Saudi Arabia uses national digital learning systems and services including Madrasati, Noor, ministry e-services, and platforms overseen by the National eLearning Center, which regulates and supports e-learning quality. |
| Governance | Education governance is relatively centralized, with the Ministry of Education responsible for general and university education policy. Specialized bodies support assessment, accreditation, technical training, e-learning regulation, and official education data. |
| International Student Note | International students may apply to Saudi public universities through official university channels and the Study in Saudi Arabia platform. Scholarship, tuition, residency, language, and program rules vary by university and applicant category. |
| Last Verified | 2026-07-06 |
Latest Education Changes
Madinah Opens Registration for the First Boys’ Sports-Gifted School Pathway (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Madinah education department opened registration for the first sports-gifted boys' school pathway in the region for the 1448 AH academic year. The registration covers qualifying trials for targeted students moving into grade four and first intermediate grade.
Madares Platform Becomes the Official Channel for Private School Enrolment (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education adopted the Madares platform as the official platform for enrolling students in private schools listed on the platform. The change creates a unified digital enrolment channel for private education options.
Academic Results Become Available Through the Tawakkalna App (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Saudi Data and AI Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, enabled access to general education students' academic results through the Tawakkalna app. This adds a national unified app route for parents and students to view results.
Ministry Extends Masar Promotion Preference Registration for Administrative Staff (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education extended the period for administrative employees to register promotion preferences through the Masar platform. The extension applies to administrative job holders up to grade thirteen, with a deadline stated as 29 June 2026.
Ministry Formalizes Education Quality Cooperation with UNESCO Regional Center (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Ministry of Education signed a scientific and educational memorandum of cooperation with the UNESCO Regional Center of Quality and Excellence in Education. The agreement establishes a formal cooperation framework for expertise exchange across educational, research, pedagogical, and administrative fields.
Al-Ahsa Opens Ministerial Placement Test Registration for Returning Learners (Saudi Arabia, June 2026)
The Al-Ahsa education department announced registration for the ministerial placement test for the 1448 AH year. The notice sets eligibility conditions for local applicants, including age, residence, and interruption from study.
Monthly Change Archive
Saudi Arabia Education System Statistics
Saudi Arabia has a ministry-led national education system covering early childhood, general education, technical and vocational training, and higher education. This data block uses national government sources, GASTAT survey releases, Ministry of Education references, ETEC assessment sources, Ministry of Finance budget records, UNESCO UIS, World Bank WDI, OECD, TIMSS, and PISA. Source years differ because administrative, survey, fiscal-year, and international assessment datasets are collected on separate calendars.
Education System Snapshot
The indicators below combine school structure, enrollment, completion, adult learning, literacy, higher education, and finance. Values are labeled by source year and should be read with the methodology notes.
Saudi Education Pathway
The student route is organized nationally. Ages are typical values used for system explanation; individual placement can vary by admission rules and school records.
Governance and Responsibility
Saudi Arabia uses national-level education administration with specialized agencies for statistics, assessment, technical training, and budget reporting.
Ministry of Education
Regulates general education and higher education, publishes school services, admission references, academic calendar materials, and education statistics services.
General Authority for Statistics
Provides national statistical releases, survey publications, population estimates, and education-related social statistics.
Education and Training Evaluation Commission
Manages national assessments, evaluation work, accreditation functions, and assessment-related centers including Qiyas.
Qiyas Testing Center
Runs testing services including the General Aptitude Test used in higher education admission routes.
Technical and Vocational Training Corporation
Develops and supervises technical and vocational training programs, facilities, and private training units.
Ministry of Finance
Publishes fiscal-year budget statements and sector allocations, including annual education budget values.
Enrollment Ratios by Level
Gross enrollment ratios use World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS values. Pre-primary uses 2021, while primary, secondary, and tertiary use 2024.
Gross enrollment ratios can exceed 100 percent when students outside the official age group are enrolled at a level. The pre-primary value uses an older source year than the other levels.
Data analysis
- Secondary education has the highest reported gross enrollment ratio in this set at 111%.
- Primary education has a reported gross enrollment ratio of 104% and 3,446,296 pupils in 2024.
- Pre-primary education should be interpreted separately because its UIS source year is 2021.
Saudi Survey Indicators, 2024
Selected GASTAT indicators from Education and Training Statistics 2024 and Adult Skills and Learning Statistics 2024.
These values come from GASTAT survey publications and should not be merged with administrative enrollment counts as if they were the same collection type.
Data analysis
- The primary completion indicator for ages 14–16 is 99.16%, with female and male rates reported at 99.27% and 99.05%.
- The youth literacy rate is 99.89%, compared with the adult literacy rate of 97.93%.
- The youth formal and non-formal learning participation indicator covers a wider learning category than school enrollment.
National Education System Indicators
This table combines national system structure, enrollment, completion, literacy, learning participation, higher education, assessment, and finance indicators. Each row gives its own source year.
| Area | Indicator | Value | Unit | Source year | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System structure | Compulsory education age span | 6–15 | Years of age | TIMSS 2023 profile | TIMSS / national profile | Covers primary and intermediate stages. |
| System structure | Compulsory education duration | 9 | Years | TIMSS 2023 profile | TIMSS / national profile | Grades 1–9 are the usual compulsory-age route. |
| Primary education | Primary stage length | 6 | Grades | 2024 profile references | MoE / TIMSS profile | Grades 1–6. |
| Intermediate education | Intermediate stage length | 3 | Grades | 2024 profile references | MoE / TIMSS profile | Grades 7–9. |
| Secondary education | Secondary stage length | 3 | Grades | 2024 profile references | MoE / TIMSS profile | Grades 10–12. |
| General education | Students starting the school year | Over 6.7M | Students | School year 1446 AH / 2024 | Ministry of Education / Saudi Press Agency | Students across regions and general education stages. |
| General education | Schools starting the school year | Over 31,000 | Schools | School year 1446 AH / 2024 | Ministry of Education / Saudi Press Agency | Reported for the national back-to-school launch. |
| Enrollment | Primary education pupils | 3,446,296 | Pupils | 2024 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Administrative and internationally harmonized reporting. |
| Enrollment | Pre-primary gross enrollment ratio | 18.32 | Percent | 2021 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Older source year than the primary and secondary GER rows. |
| Enrollment | Primary gross enrollment ratio | 104 | Percent | 2024 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | GER can exceed 100 percent. |
| Enrollment | Secondary gross enrollment ratio | 111 | Percent | 2024 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Includes source-defined secondary education. |
| Enrollment | Tertiary gross enrollment ratio | 83.88 | Percent | 2024 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Higher education participation relative to the official age group. |
| Early childhood | Children aged 36–59 months enrolled in early childhood education | 9.54 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Early Childhood Statistics | Survey-age definition differs from UIS pre-primary GER. |
| Completion | Primary education completion, ages 14–16 | 99.16 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Education and Training Statistics | Survey estimate for population aged 14–16. |
| Completion | Female primary completion, ages 14–16 | 99.27 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Education and Training Statistics | Survey estimate. |
| Completion | Male primary completion, ages 14–16 | 99.05 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Education and Training Statistics | Survey estimate. |
| Learning participation | Population aged 15–64 in formal and non-formal education and training | 29.23 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey-based participation measure. |
| Learning participation | Youth aged 15–24 in formal and non-formal education and training | 64.76 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Includes formal and non-formal learning. |
| Adult skills | Training participation delivered virtually | 38.44 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Training mode among participants aged 15+. |
| Adult skills | Training participation delivered in person | 38.36 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Training mode among participants aged 15+. |
| Adult skills | Training participation delivered through hybrid mode | 23.20 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Virtual and in-person combined mode. |
| Literacy | Adult literacy rate, ages 15+ | 97.93 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey-based literacy measure. |
| Literacy | Youth literacy rate, ages 15–24 | 99.89 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey-based literacy measure. |
| Attainment | Population aged 25+ with intermediate education or higher | 85.80 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey-based attainment measure. |
| Attainment | Mean years of schooling, population aged 25+ | 12.28 | Years | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey-based average. |
| Higher education | Higher education enrollment | 1.57M | Students | 2024 | SPA / UNESCO report reference | Reported in national news reference to UNESCO post-secondary data. |
| Higher education | Population aged 25+ with higher education in STEM fields | 28.94 | Percent | 2024 | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | STEM field share among population aged 25+ with higher education. |
| Assessment | PISA sample students | 6,928 | Students | PISA 2022 | OECD PISA country note | Students assessed in mathematics, reading, or science. |
| Assessment | PISA sample schools | 193 | Schools | PISA 2022 | OECD PISA country note | Sample represented about 317,500 15-year-old students. |
| Assessment | International assessment subjects listed by MoE for PISA | 3 | Subjects | MoE page updated 2022 | Ministry of Education | Mathematics, science, and reading. |
| Finance | Education budget allocation | SAR 195B | Saudi riyals | FY2024 | Ministry of Finance Budget Statement | Sector allocation in the state budget. |
| Finance | Education budget allocation | SAR 201B | Saudi riyals | FY2025 | Ministry of Education / Ministry of Finance reference | Reported by the Minister of Education for 2025. |
| Finance | Government expenditure on education | 15.64 | Percent of government expenditure | 2024 | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Internationally harmonized finance indicator. |
| Finance | Government expenditure on education | 5.1 | Percent of GDP | 2023 | UNESCO / international country profile | GDP-share finance indicator; fiscal-year treatment may differ from budget rows. |
Education Levels and ISCED Alignment
This table maps common Saudi education levels to typical ages, grades, governance responsibility, and cautious ISCED alignment.
| Level | Typical age | Years / grades | ISCED alignment | Authority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten / pre-primary | Usually 3–5 | Before Grade 1 | ISCED 0, where source definitions match | Ministry of Education | Participation definitions differ across GASTAT age-group survey data and UIS GER data. |
| Primary education | Usually 6–11 or 6–12 | Grades 1–6 | ISCED 1 | Ministry of Education | Part of the compulsory education route. |
| Intermediate education | Usually 12–14 or 12–15 | Grades 7–9 | ISCED 2 | Ministry of Education | Completes the usual compulsory-age route. |
| Secondary general education | Usually 15–17 or 15–18 | Grades 10–12 | ISCED 3 | Ministry of Education | Secondary certificate supports higher education and training admission. |
| Secondary technical / vocational route | Usually secondary age or postsecondary entry | Program-dependent | ISCED 3 or 4 depending on program | TVTC and related bodies | Program definitions should be checked before comparison with general secondary data. |
| Postsecondary diploma / short-cycle route | Usually after secondary education | Program-dependent | ISCED 5 where source definitions match | MoE, TVTC, and accredited providers | Includes technical and institution-based routes depending on provider type. |
| Bachelor’s or equivalent | Usually postsecondary | Often 4 years; longer in some professional fields | ISCED 6 | Ministry of Education and higher education institutions | Admission may use secondary certificate plus aptitude, achievement, interview, or program criteria. |
| Master’s or equivalent | Post-bachelor’s | Program-dependent | ISCED 7 | Higher education institutions and accreditation bodies | Institution rules vary by program. |
| Doctoral or equivalent | Post-master’s or equivalent route | Program-dependent | ISCED 8 | Higher education institutions and accreditation bodies | Research and professional requirements vary by field. |
| Adult skills and lifelong learning | 15+ in GASTAT survey data | Non-formal and formal learning categories | Not one single ISCED level | Multiple providers; GASTAT survey reporting | Survey values are not the same as school enrollment counts. |
Exams, Assessments, and Transition Points
Saudi Arabia combines school progression, secondary certificate records, higher education admission tests, national assessment programs, and international assessments.
| Transition | Exam or process | Typical stage | Managing authority | Purpose | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry to kindergarten or Grade 1 | New student registration through Noor | Initial school entry | Ministry of Education | Registers new students in early grades and initial stages. | MoE registration service page, 2025. |
| Primary to intermediate | School progression based on records and completion rules | End of Grade 6 | Ministry of Education | Moves students from primary to intermediate education. | Stage structure from MoE and TIMSS profile references. |
| Intermediate completion | School progression and completion records | End of Grade 9 | Ministry of Education | Completes the usual compulsory-age route. | Compulsory ages 6–15 from TIMSS 2023 country profile. |
| Secondary completion | General Secondary School Certificate or equivalent | End of Grade 12 | Ministry of Education and schools | Documents completion for higher education, training, or employment routes. | MoE unified admission page lists the secondary certificate as an admission condition. |
| University admission | General Aptitude Test and achievement tests where required | Post-secondary admission | Qiyas / ETEC and higher education institutions | Supports admission decisions with institution-specific rules. | MoE unified admission page and Qiyas test page. |
| Higher education institutional admission | Unified admission portals and institution criteria | Post-secondary entry | Ministry of Education and higher education institutions | Coordinates applications and admission requirements. | MoE unified admission page, 2025. |
| National learning monitoring | NAFS national assessments | Selected school grades | ETEC | Measures learning outcomes through a national assessment program. | ETEC National Assessments page. |
| International assessment participation | PISA | Age 15 | OECD with national participation | Assesses mathematics, reading, and science in an international study. | MoE international tests page and OECD PISA 2022 country note. |
| International assessment participation | TIMSS | Grades 4 and 8 | IEA with national participation | Assesses mathematics and science in an international study. | TIMSS 2023 Saudi Arabia country profile. |
| Technical and vocational entry | TVTC admission and program processes | Secondary or postsecondary route | TVTC | Places learners in technical and vocational programs. | MoE TVTC page and National Platform agency page. |
Finance, Higher Education, and Skills Indicators
Finance values use fiscal-year and international finance indicators. Higher education and adult learning indicators use separate source systems.
Education Budget Allocations
Fiscal-year budget values reported by official Saudi sources.
Budget allocations are fiscal-year values in Saudi riyals. WDI / UIS finance ratios use internationally harmonized indicator definitions.
Adult Learning and Attainment
GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics 2024.
Adult learning indicators are survey estimates and should be separated from school administrative records.
Source-Year Crosswalk
The crosswalk identifies which source type supports each indicator group and why values should not be treated as one unified dataset.
| Indicator group | Source | Collection type | Year | Coverage | Use in module |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School structure | Ministry of Education, National Platform, TIMSS profile | Administrative and system description | 2022–2025 references | National structure | Pathway visual and education levels table. |
| General education scale | Ministry of Education / Saudi Press Agency | Administrative release | School year 1446 AH / 2024 | General education students and schools | Snapshot and indicator table. |
| Enrollment ratios | World Bank WDI / UNESCO UIS | Internationally harmonized administrative data | 2021 and 2024 | Pre-primary, primary, secondary, tertiary | Main enrollment chart and indicator table. |
| Completion and student experience | GASTAT Education and Training Statistics | Survey | 2024 | Ages 8–19 and age-specific indicators | Completion and survey indicator rows. |
| Adult skills, literacy, attainment | GASTAT Adult Skills and Learning Statistics | Survey | 2024 | Population aged 15+ and 25+ indicators | Literacy, mean schooling, learning participation, and attainment rows. |
| Finance | Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, World Bank WDI / UIS | Fiscal-year budget and international finance indicators | FY2024, FY2025, 2024 WDI | Government education allocation and ratios | Finance cards and indicator table. |
| Higher education | SPA / UNESCO report reference, WDI / UIS, GASTAT | Administrative, international, and survey indicators | 2024 | Tertiary enrollment ratio, higher education enrollment, field of study | Snapshot, table rows, and higher education notes. |
| Assessment | ETEC, Qiyas, OECD PISA, TIMSS | Assessment program documentation and international sample data | 2022–2024 | National assessments, university admission tests, PISA, TIMSS | Exams and transitions table. |
Data Interpretation Notes
These notes define safe use of the indicators in a country profile page.
Gross enrollment ratios
Gross enrollment ratios can be above 100 percent because the numerator includes students enrolled at the level even when they are outside the official age group.
Survey and administrative data
GASTAT survey values measure responses from population groups. They are not the same as school census counts or ministry administrative totals.
Fiscal-year and school-year values
Budget rows use fiscal-year reporting. School enrollment rows use school-year or calendar-year source systems.
Assessment data
PISA and TIMSS values describe assessment participation, samples, or profiles. They should be separated from national enrollment totals.
Higher education values
Tertiary GER, higher education enrollment, and adult attainment use different definitions. They should not be added together.
National summary limits
National indicators may not show school-level, region-level, provider-level, or program-level variation.
Sources and Methodology
Saudi Ministry of Education
Used for ministry role, school services, new student registration, private and international school regulation, unified admission references, English from Grade 1, and 2025 education budget statement.
Saudi Press Agency
Used for the school year 1446 AH national back-to-school count of more than 6.7 million students and over 31,000 schools, and higher education enrollment reporting linked to UNESCO data.
General Authority for Statistics
Used for Education and Training Statistics 2024, primary completion, student experience indicators, Adult Skills and Learning Statistics 2024, literacy, attainment, mean years of schooling, and learning participation.
Ministry of Finance
Used for education sector budget allocations, including the FY2024 education allocation of SAR 195 billion. FY2025 education allocation is supported by the Ministry of Education ministerial statement.
World Bank WDI and UNESCO UIS
Used for pre-primary, primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratios; primary pupils; and government education expenditure ratios.
Education and Training Evaluation Commission
Used for national assessment and evaluation roles, including NAFS and ETEC assessment governance.
Qiyas Testing Center
Used for the General Aptitude Test description in higher education admission pathways.
TVTC and National Platform
Used for the role of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in technical and vocational education and training.
OECD PISA and TIMSS
Used for PISA 2022 sample counts, international assessment subjects, TIMSS 2023 system profile details, and assessment participation context.
Method: Values are reported in their source units and rounded only when the source or publication uses rounded values. Percentages, counts, fiscal-year allocations, school-year administrative data, survey estimates, and international assessment samples are not merged into derived rankings. Where a value is described as “over” or “more than,” the row preserves the source wording rather than converting it into an exact count.
Indicators from different school years, calendar years, survey years, fiscal years, sectors, and source systems should not be merged without a stated method. Values describe structure, coverage, participation, finance, assessment participation, and attainment; they should not be used as a single performance score.