The Ministry of Education cancels regional spokespersons to unify media messaging

The Saudi Ministry of Education has issued new structural and administrative regulations, including a pivotal decision to abolish the position of "official spokesperson" in all education departments across the Kingdom's regions and governorates. The authority to issue media statements and official announcements is now restricted to the Ministry's central channels only. This decision is part of the latest edition of the "Communication Governance Guide," which primarily aims to unify the media message and regulate the educational landscape throughout the Kingdom.

Centralizing media decision-making and ending individual interpretations

Under the new regulations, the Ministry has abolished the previous mechanisms outlined in the 1441 AH Social Media Accounts Governance Guide and replaced them with a centralized and rigorous corporate communication system. The new regulations explicitly prohibit any individual authorization to issue statements or media releases at the local level, emphasizing that communication decisions are now entirely centralized. This step aims to eliminate the loopholes that existed previously, which could lead to discrepancies in information or negatively impact the Ministry's public image.

The context of institutional transformation and Vision 2030

This decision cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the transformation underway in Saudi Arabian government institutions, a transformation aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, which emphasizes governance, transparency, and performance efficiency. Given the vast size of the education sector, serving millions of students and teachers, the need for a unified official stance and the avoidance of conflicting statements that could confuse the educational field and families, particularly during peak periods or sensitive academic seasons, has become paramount.

Crisis management and countering rumors

The ministry has included in its new guide precise mechanisms for managing communication during crises, designating single official channels for handling emergencies. This is of paramount importance given the rapid spread of information through social media, as limiting the source helps prevent leaks, rumors, or unofficial interpretations that could cause confusion in educational and social circles. This measure ensures that the public receives accurate and verified information from a single, authorized source.

From platform management to message governance

The new governance framework extends to corporate reputation management and digital content creation, moving beyond the traditional operational concept of account management to building a strategic communication system. The guidelines include standards for compliance with national policies and the protection of information and data security, thereby raising the level of professionalism and enhancing credibility. This step represents a qualitative shift from "platform management" to "message governance," contributing to strengthening public trust and unifying the ministry's official voice amidst the overwhelming influx of information.