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The Ministry of Education has created specific regulations for International and private schools with the aim of enhancing the private sector's role, facilitating its contribution to educational system development and establishing a competitive advantage that ensures the provision of educational services in contemporary methods while upholding quality standards. The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance educational outcomes and facilitate administrative processes for international and private schools.
Private and international schools have the authority to oversee and modify their internal organizational structure in accordance with Ministerial Resolution No. 4401195148 issued on 10/11/1444 AH/. This resolution grants private and international educational institutions the ability to manage and alter their internal organizational structure, provided that the following controls and regulations are taken into account:
  • First: General controls
  • ​ Building the structure to achieve the school’s organizational, functional, educational, and pedagogical objectives.
  • The number of employees in the school structure should be proportional to the nature of the building, the number of students and their categories (general education, kindergarten, special education, gifted), and their levels of study.
  • Determine the tasks, roles, responsibilities, and organizational connections for all administrative, educational, and support services functions. When selecting an employee, it is crucial to consider the suitability of competencies and qualifications for each specific job.
  • It is essential to consider the flexibility in establishing teams and committees based on job demands, as well as opening various communication ​channels of communication with all beneficiaries.
Second: Regulations of the school’s internal structure
  • The school must have a principal responsible for both the administrative and technical aspects in order to achieve efficient and effective performance within the school.
  • It is imperative that the school has one or more agents, depending on the building and the number of students, to ensure supervision of student affairs and educational and school affairs.
  • The number of educational personnel should be sufficient according to the type of education, licensing, stages, curricula, and categories of students. This ensures that lessons are adequately prepared, regardless of the type of education. Additionally, educational personnel should be responsible for monitoring students' academic progress, preparing educational means, conducting scientific experiments, and providing technical support.
  • Adequate Staffing of administrative personnel is crucial to effectively carry out various tasks including secretarial work, continuous updating of school data, daily supervision of students from their arrival to departure, monitoring their activities throughout the school day, and enforcing behavioral and attendance policies.
  • The presence of one or more representatives is of utmost importance to facilitate the oversight and execution of a comprehensive student guidance and supervision plan, promoting mental and physical health, and studying student behavior and consistency.
  • There should be one or more delegates to oversee and implement a plan for student activity in accordance with the approved regulations and prepare reports thereon.
  • The number should be sufficient for the jobs of support services, school transportation services, as well as monitoring, cleanliness, and maintenance of school facilities.
Private and international schools are allowed to determine the duration of the school day and the school schedule as stated in Ministerial Circular No. 4400696205 dated 7/2/1444 AH. This circular grants private and international schools the right to determine the hours of the school day and the school schedule according to the following controls:
Controls and times of working hours and school schedules:
  • The school possesses the authority to adjust the start of the school day, either by advancing it by half an hour or by delaying it by one hour beyond ​what is officially approved.
  • The school is given flexibility in determining the duration of class periods, with the minimum requirement being 35 minutes for the primary and intermediate stages and 40 for the secondary stage, provided that any time saved through this flexibility must be utilized for enrichment programs that have been approved by the Ministry. These programs should adhere to the daily and weekly learning hours that are typically observed in general education for each respective grade.
  • The school responsible for implementation should adhere to guidelines outlined in the first and second items, which require notifying the Department of Education or the global education offices to which the school is affiliated. It is crucial to inform the beneficiaries of the school day schedule two weeks prior to the start of the semester or during ​the registration process at the beginning of the academic year.​

Private and international public education institutions are allowed to determine the start and end dates of semesters and vacations according to Ministerial Circular No. 4401204734 dated 11/12/1444 AH, which approves the implementation of the academic calendar in these institutions, while also granting them the flexibility to determine these dates in accordance with the following controls:

  • The total number of school days for the academic year should adhere to the approved calendar, with the possibility of increasing it. The start of the academic year may be subject to alteration, either brought forward or postponed, with a maximum extension of two weeks beyond the officially approved academic calendar.
  • The possibility of arranging and organizing vacations, with the importance of the institution’s commitment to the vacations included in the approved academic calendar, and ensuring the continuation of study on the dates specified for implementing international and national examinations, should the school be included in the target sample.
  • The educational institution wishing to determine the beginning and end of semesters and vacations is required to submit a time plan within two weeks of the approved calendar being announced. The time plan should specify the start and end dates of each semester and the included vacations. The plan must be approved by the Department of Education/Global Education Office. The institution is then responsible for announcing its ​plan to the beneficiaries at least two weeks prior to the start of the school year.​
Private and international schools are granted the privilege to utilize educational electronic platforms in accordance with Ministerial Circular No. 4400198181 dated 24/02/1444 AH, which emphasizes the importance of preparing lessons in an optimal manner through the use of the Madrasati platform, and Ministerial Circular No. 4400072733 dated 02/01/1444 AH, which permits private and international schools to prepare lessons using Madrasati platform, on the condition that they adhere to the following regulations:
  • Highlighting the Madrasati platform's accessibility to private, international, and foreign schools and the possibility of benefiting from its services.
  • Enabling private, international, and foreign schools to use their own educational platforms, which meet the minimum standards for using any e-learning system, to ensure the continuity of the educational process and achieve the required outcomes issued by Ministerial ​Circular No. 33212 dated 03/22/1442 AH.
  • Stressing the importance of preparing lessons electronically in all private, international, and foreign schools in an optimal manner according to the technical characteristics available to them on the platforms used.​
TheMinimum Standards for Learning Management System press here
Female teachers are allowed to teach male and female students starting from kindergarten to the sixth grade of the primary stage​ according to Ministerial Circular No. 4401154482 dated 28/10/1444 AH, which approved allowing female teachers to teach male and female students starting from kindergarten to the sixth grade of the elementary stage in private and international education schools.
Private and international education schools are authorized to invest in their facilities outside of official working hours and on vacation days to encourage them to offer enrichment programs for both male and female students, as well as those with special education needs, in accordance with Ministerial Circular No. 1/4400765423, dated 03/07/1444 AH, which approves enabling private education facilities to invest in their buildings outside official working hours and on vacation days, in accordance with the following controls:
  • The program should be restricted to activities that contribute to the educational process, including the provision of training programs, enrichment programs, cultural activities, and sports programs for both male and female students as well as those with special education needs.
  • The established program shall not have any impact on the educational process within the facility.
  • Complying with all regulations and instructions issued by the relevant authorities, with the facility taking full responsibility for the ​consequences of implementing these programs.​
Private and international education schools are authorized to establish extracurricular activities such as music, theater, and sports as per Ministerial Circular No. 4400983768, issued on 09/01/1444 AH. This circular grants these schools the authority to promote and facilitate the implementation of such activities. Both private and international schools are permitted to practice and develop extracurricular activities, as long as they adhere to the following guidelines :
  • Private and international schools prepare a comprehensive plan of events, parties, visits, and excursions to be carried out during the academic year. They are required to notify the Department of Education or its Global Education Office about this plan at least one week ​prior to the start of the academic year.
  • Private and international schools comply with the regulations and directives pertaining to parties, visits, and student trips, as set forth by the relevant authorities.
to view Regulations for Parties-school execursion to Private-education press here
The Ministerial Resolution No. 440075353504, dated 07/02/1444 AH, was issued in which certain items were approved regarding tuition fees:
  • ​ The role of the Ministry of Education and the relevant committees is limited to reviewing the regulations governing tuition fees, compiling a compre​hensive​ database on private schools and their fees in the Kingdom, receiving and studying complaints related to this regard, and developing the necessary procedures to protect the rights of students, schools, and parents.​
    ​ Adopting regulations governing tuition fees in private schools.
  • ​​ Adopting regulations governing tuition fees in private schools.
To view Rules Governing Tuition Fees for Private Schools press here
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