Guidelines for attending educational seminars for teachers, according to the National Institute
The National Institute for Professional Development in Education in Saudi Arabia has announced a new set of regulations and requirements governing the attendance of teachers and educational practitioners at scientific seminars, as part of its guide for accrediting professional development activities. This step aims to ensure the quality of educational outcomes and guarantee that all activities directly and effectively serve the educational field.
The context of professional development and the Kingdom's Vision 2030
These regulatory measures cannot be separated from the broader context of the transformation underway in the Kingdom's education sector, a transformation aligned with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, particularly the Human Capital Development Program. In recent years, the focus has shifted from traditional training to the concept of "continuous professional development," which links promotions and professional licenses to accredited development hours. These policies aim to create a competitive educational environment that meets global standards, where teachers are viewed as the cornerstone of this change process, necessitating the governance of their activities to ensure their academic effectiveness.
Seminars as a tool for knowledge enrichment
The organizational guidelines clarified that seminars are not merely casual gatherings, but rather specialized dialogue activities that discuss specific educational or pedagogical issues, with the participation of a select group of experts and academics. These seminars aim to:
- Enriching the teacher's professional knowledge and enabling him to access the latest theories.
- Enhancing critical thinking skills and constructive discussion about field issues.
- Exchanging experiences among educational practitioners and addressing educational challenges with modern scientific methods.
Basic requirements for attendance and accreditation
To ensure maximum benefit, the National Institute has set strict conditions for counting seminar attendance towards professional development points, most notably:
- Prior approval: Approval must be obtained from the direct supervisor before participating, especially if the seminar coincides with official working hours, to ensure the continuity of school work without interruption.
- Thematic relevance: The topic of the seminar must be closely related to the educational field or the professional work requirements of the teacher, to ensure that the content is consistent with the actual needs of the field.
- Official documentation: The attendance certificate must be uploaded after the activity has ended and approved by the direct supervisor in order to be officially included in the teacher's record.
Accreditation mechanism and implementation levels
The guide details the mechanism for approving seminars based on the implementing body. Seminars held within the school are approved by the school administration, while those implemented at the education department level are subject to review by a specialized committee to ensure the suitability of the objectives and timeline. The teacher's journey begins with submitting a formal application, followed by a review by their direct supervisor or excellence committees, and concludes with attending the event and submitting the required documents for scoring.
Expected impact on the quality of education
This restructuring is expected to improve the efficiency of training spending and direct efforts toward activities with genuine added value. By focusing participation in seminars closely related to education, teachers will be able to acquire skills that are directly reflected in the classroom, leading to improved student learning outcomes. This approach also fosters a culture of "learning professional communities" within schools, where teachers share their acquired expertise with their colleagues, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of the education system.
