The Ministry of Education cancels the licenses of 74 private schools and clarifies the fate of the students

The Ministry of Education has issued a decisive decision to revoke the licenses of 74 private schools across several cities in Saudi Arabia. This action is part of its intensified monitoring campaigns to ensure the quality of private education and that educational institutions comply with regulations. The decision follows the detection of a series of serious violations related to adherence to established requirements, necessitating immediate intervention to guarantee the safety of students and maintain the quality of educational outcomes.

Reasons for license cancellation and safety risks

The ministry explained in its statement that the observed violations were not merely procedural, but included fundamental aspects affecting the safety and security of the school environment. These violations included the absence of a valid operating license and the lack of a safety license (Civil Defense certificate), an essential document to ensure the availability of fire extinguishing and alarm systems and safe emergency exits. The ministry emphasized that these requirements are fundamental pillars that cannot be compromised for the continuation of any educational activity.

The ministry indicated that the decision came after exhausting all regulatory procedures, as warnings were gradually issued to the violating schools. However, the lack of response from those schools to the requirements for correction and the high risk index resulting from the continuation of violations made their closure an inevitable necessity due to the inability of the operators to meet the necessary operational requirements.

Context of educational reforms and Vision 2030

This decision cannot be separated from the broader context of the developmental movement underway in the education sector in Saudi Arabia under the umbrella of Vision 2030. Through its Human Capacity Development Program and Quality of Life Program, the Kingdom seeks to elevate private education to become a strategic partner to public education, rather than merely a commercial enterprise. The Ministry is working in coordination with the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and other relevant bodies to enforce rigorous standards that ensure a stimulating and safe learning environment.

This measure reflects a shift in the ministry’s strategy from traditional oversight to quality assurance and sustainability-based oversight. These steps aim to cleanse the educational market of institutions unable to provide added value, thus opening the way for distinguished schools to offer their services and promote positive competition that benefits the student and the parent.

The fate of the students and the mechanism for immediate transfer

Regarding the fate of students enrolled in schools whose licenses were revoked, the Ministry of Education developed an urgent plan to ensure their academic progress is not affected. The Ministry approved the immediate and direct admission of students transferring from these schools to public schools, guaranteeing their continued enrollment without interruption.

The ministry also provided parents with flexibility, allowing them to transfer their children to other licensed and qualified private schools if they wish, or to utilize available places in government schools near their homes. This step aims to reassure families and reaffirm the ministry's commitment to its full responsibility for students' right to education in a structured and safe environment.

Enhancing competitiveness and quality of education

In conclusion, the Ministry of Education emphasized that license revocation is not an end in itself, but rather a means to enhance the quality of education and provide an attractive learning environment. It affirmed that inspection tours will continue to ensure that all private and international schools meet the updated requirements, thereby supporting the development of the private education sector and raising the level of services provided to students, in line with national aspirations to build a globally competitive generation.