Saudi Education Reforms: Flexible Hours, AI, Promotions

Aug 21, 2026
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Saudi Education Reforms: Flexible Hours, AI, Promotions

Saudi Arabia is rolling out a package of reforms across public education that changes how teachers' working hours are calculated, adds artificial intelligence tools inside schools, and prepares promotions for more than 37,500 educational and administrative staff.

Under the new approach, teacher working hours will be set by each school's daily schedule and operational plan, rather than a single fixed timetable applied across the whole day. Teachers will be allowed to leave once they complete their scheduled duties, which include teaching, grading, and campus supervision.

AI in classrooms and admin

The reforms bring artificial intelligence tools into schools to reduce the administrative workload carried by staff. The Ministry of Education is also introducing AI curriculum content and related digital teaching tools, aiming to modernize both what students learn and how teachers deliver lessons.

A separate part of the reform package states that teachers must not teach subjects outside their area of specialization, a step intended to strengthen the quality of classroom instruction.

Promotions for tens of thousands

On the staffing side, promotions are being prepared for more than 37,500 educational and administrative employees, described as roughly 28,000 educational staff and 9,500 administrative staff. The promotions are planned for the month following the announcement.

For families and educators across the Kingdom, the changes signal a lighter administrative burden for teachers, clearer scheduling, and a stronger focus on specialization and digital learning. No public fee or application step has been stated for these reforms.


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