Saudi Arabia's Schooling System Insights: A Detailed Guide

Education is crucial for your child’s bright and successful future. Whenever parents make a final decision to move abroad or to any other new location within a country, they are more concerned about their children’s education. They always look for a high-quality education, a premium school that meets their needs, and affordability in their respective areas.

The schooling system in Saudi Arabia has transformed and evolved impressively. When the Saudi Kingdom was established in 1932, the education system was very limited. Education was available only to a few people living in big cities who had a healthy net worth. Today, Saudi Arabia is one of those countries that always pays special attention to and introduces new reforms and initiatives in the educational system of the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has a large number of educational institutes including more than 30,000 schools, a wide range of colleges, and other institutes. It also has more than 50 private and public universities for higher education.

The main emphasis of the Saudi Arabian schooling system is on Islamic Studies. The Saudi Kingdom always maintains its traditions, and in schools, it maintains its traditions, values, and culture but also gives core importance to modernization. Hence, the Saudi Arabian schooling system is a unique blend of Saudi culture and modernization.

This helpful guide about the schooling system in Saudi Arabia will explore the structure of the education system, and different levels of education such as preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education.

Structure Of The Education System In Saudi Arabia

The main focus and characteristics of Saudi Arabia’s education system are Islamic and religious studies. They give core importance to their Islamic values, culture, and traditions. Islam and its values are reflected in the school curriculum and other activities. With traditional studies, modern practices and technology are increasingly incorporated into the education system in Saudi Arabia. This balance between traditional studies and modernization creates a unique learning experience in Saudi schools.

Moreover, there is gender segregation in both public and private schools in Saudi Schools. For girls and boys, schools are different. There is also a wide range of international schools that follow different curricula so these schools are good options for expats or foreign students who are living in Saudi Arabia.

The structure of the education system in Saudi Arabia is divided into four different stages. Each stage has its specific time duration, features, and characteristics. Here is an elaboration of each stage.

Kindergarten – 3 years
Primary Education – 6 years
Secondary Education – 6 years
Higher Education

Kindergarten In Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, Kindergarten education is not compulsory but it has become popular and increasing among Saudi parents. They have come to know how early education plays a pivotal role in the early education development of their child.

There are various private, public, and international nurseries in Saudi Arabia for the early education of toddlers. Kindergarten is a formal early childhood education program for children ages 3 to 6.

In Saudi Arabia, this early program is divided into two stages: KG1 and KG2

KG1 is the level for children aged between 3 to 4 and KG2 is the level for children aged between 5 to 6. The purpose of this education is to enhance cognitive, emotional, and social skills and prepare them for primary education. At this stage, young students learn how they have to behave in society, and how to interact with others. The curriculum includes basic literacy, numeracy skills, Arabic language, Islamic teachings, and play-based learning activities.

In both public and private nurseries, there is an integration of Islamic values into daily life activities. The private kindergartens may offer bilingual and international curricula. Expats who are looking for international nurseries in the Saudi Kingdom must keep in mind the cost of International nurseries ranges from SAR 10,000 to SAR 65,000 per year.

Primary School System In Saudi Arabia

The primary education system starts from grades one to six and is for students between the ages of six to twelve years. According to the National Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, it is mandatory to attend six years of primary school for all the students in the Kingdom.

The education in Public primary school is free and universally available to Saudi citizens and certain expats. Sometimes expats may face difficulty with enrolling in government schools due to language barriers and the predominance of Saudi-native students. The public schools are free and entirely funded by the government and these schools follow the national curriculum.

Private primary schools in Saudi Arabia often are an admirable opportunity for expats and Saudi citizens who are looking for an international curriculum. Private educational institutes in Saudi Arabia follow a variety of international curricula, International Baccalaureate IB, American, and British Curricula, and also teach languages other than Arabic. Compared to public schools, private schools in Saudi Arabia offer more facilities, high-quality education, and a better learning environment for their students. The fee structure in private schools ranges between SAR 15,000 to SAR 110,000.

Secondary School System In Saudi Arabia

There is a bit of confusion regarding the secondary school system in Saudi Arabia. It depends on educational institutes. After primary education in Saudi Arabia, the educational system has two stages; the intermediate starts from the age of 13 to 16, and the secondary stage starts from the age of 17 to 19 years.

Intermediate or secondary education is not compulsory in Saudi Arabia. The public schools offer free secondary education to Saudi citizens and follow the National Saudi curriculum including different subjects like math, science, history, literature, Arabic, Islamic studies, and English. After completing the intermediate level, students have the option to enroll in the secondary level with their particular interest in a specific field, for instance in arts, sciences, commerce, or a particular vocation.

In Saudi Arabia, there are plenty of options for private schools that offer secondary education. Some private schools follow a national Saudi educational curriculum and some follow an international curriculum like International Baccalaureate.

Higher Education In Saudi Arabia

Many private and public universities are there in Saudi Arabia for higher education. King Saud University and King Abdulaziz University are the most famous public universities in the Saudi Kingdom. These government universities offer free education to Saudi Citizens.

Al Faisal University and Prince Sultan University are the most popular private universities in Saudi Arabia. These universities have dominance in the Saudi kingdom due to the large enrolment of students. Both private and public universities offer quality education and provide a wide range of courses. They also offer financial support to students in the form of scholarships and grants.

Final Thoughts

The Saudi government has introduced many reforms and initiatives in the educational system in Saudi Arabia. These measures have enabled educational institutes to become more competitive and attractive to students from around the world. This has increased the number of foreign students studying in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabia education system offers a diverse range of opportunities to learn a unique blend of Islamic traditions and modern educational practices. If you need more information regarding the updates in Saudi Arabia, you can visit https://sothebysrealty.sa/en.