Taif Reviews School Readiness for New Academic Year

The Governor of Taif, Prince Fawaz bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, held a meeting on 23 August 2026 with the Director General of Education in Taif, Dr. Saeed Al‑Ghamdi, to review preparations for the start of the 1448–1449 AH academic year across the province.

The review focused on the readiness of school buildings, including comprehensive maintenance work and ensuring schools are prepared educationally and operationally to guarantee a smooth and well‑organized start to the year. The General Directorate of Education in Taif confirmed that more than 1,700 schools are ready, with school principals, administrative staff, and educational supervisors already back to prepare for the new year.

The Governor also reviewed the General Education System project, examining its objectives and regulatory frameworks aimed at strengthening governance in public education, improving educational outcomes, and raising the efficiency of the learning environment in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

Special calendar for Taif

Taif is among four directorates exempted from the standard calendar, alongside Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah. Teachers return to schools on 10 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1448 AH, while students return to classes on 17 Rabi‘ al‑Awwal 1448 AH. Public schools in Taif begin classes on 30 August 2026, whereas students in most other regions return on 23 August 2026. The 1448–1449 AH year continues the two‑semester model, with school resumption on 10/3/1448 AH.

Nationally, recent reforms include large‑scale infrastructure and maintenance projects: 75 new school construction projects worth around SAR 920 million, comprehensive maintenance of more than 15,000 school buildings and 884,000 air‑conditioning units at a cost of over SAR 2 billion, and the restoration of more than 1,400 educational buildings for about SAR 782 million. A national press conference with the Minister of Education is scheduled to present developments in the education system and preparations for the new year.

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