The Ministry of Education prohibits its staff from appearing in the media without official permission

The Ministry of Education has issued strict and decisive directives prohibiting any media appearances, press statements, or publication of official statements representing any educational entity, whether schools or departments, without prior official approval. The Ministry emphasized that this measure is implemented through direct and prior coordination with the General Directorate of Corporate Communication at the Ministry or the relevant communication units within the various educational institutions.

The context of governance and regulating media discourse

This step comes as part of the Ministry of Education's ongoing efforts to develop its administrative and institutional work system, and in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which focuses on governance, transparency, and unifying messages issued by government entities. Through this Communication Governance Guide, the Ministry aims to eliminate individual interpretations that could lead to conflicting information or the dissemination of inaccurate messages to the public, thus ensuring that information issued by the education sector is reliable and comprehensive.

Defining responsibilities and authorities

The ministry clarified in its circular that the organizational guidelines precisely define the entities and individuals authorized to speak to the media. The ministry's official spokesperson is the primary point of contact and the first authorized representative, in addition to ministry leaders and those responsible for specific portfolios based on official assignments. At the regional level, the ministry has restricted the right to make statements to the directors general of education or their officially designated representatives, thus preventing any irresponsible statements from school staff without official authorization.

Approval and oversight mechanisms

The Ministry emphasized the necessity for all school staff, including teachers and administrators, to refrain from participating in any media platform in an official capacity without prior written approval. The Ministry has established a specific and expedited mechanism for obtaining such approvals. This process begins with submitting a formal request to the General Directorate of Corporate Communications, detailing the host organization and the topics of discussion. The request is reviewed and responded to within 24 hours, ensuring a swift response to media requirements while maintaining professional standards.

The strategic importance of the decision

This decision is of paramount importance in enhancing the credibility of educational media discourse, as it helps protect the educational community and parents from rumors or misinformation that may result from ill-considered individual statements. Furthermore, this regulation strengthens the public image of the educational institution as a disciplined and professional entity that adheres to rigorous standards in communicating with the public and the media, thereby increasing the effectiveness of its communication and achieving the desired educational goals.