Saudi Arabia has achieved internationally competitive educational achievements in the field of e-learning thanks to the Ministry of Education's efforts and initiatives in developing an integrated e-learning system, utilizing and investing in modern technologies, and finding digital solutions and educational strategies. This is in light of the wise leadership's unrestricted support for the development of education in keeping with the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
The Ministry of Education supports e-learning in response to the demands of sustainable digital development, era changes, and future challenges, as well as its significance within the system of digital transformation and innovative solutions, and the readiness of technical and human infrastructure. Additionally, it emphasizes the theme of developing the human being and investing in his skills and capabilities to prepare a globally competitive generation and to support the development and the national economy.
The Saudi model of distance education and e-learning has received much international praise, the most recent of which was from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for what the Kingdom has achieved in the field of e-learning governance through its book "Guide to policies and master plans for information and communication technology organizations in education." UNESCO has recognized the National Center for E-Learning as a global example in developing quality control and assurance mechanisms to ensure the quality of digital solutions offered in the field of e-learning, such as digital platforms, educational resources, and e-courses that are compatible with the Ministry's products for e-learning.
E-learning in the Kingdom was also highlighted in a World Bank Report titled "Saudi Arabia's Digital and Distance Education: Experiences from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Opportunities for Educational Improvement". In addition, UNESCO documented Saudi Arabia’s experience with distance education and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of four global practices along with South Korea, China, and Finland. Furthermore, the report produced by UNESCO, UNICEF, and the World Bank described the Madrasati platform as one of the largest learning platforms implemented in the Arab world.
The Ministry of Education uses a variety of educational platforms and solutions in its system of distant education and e-learning. The most important of these is the "Madrasati" platform, which is an international model for the management of e-learning and provides synchronous and asynchronous education through a number of digital solutions, electronic courses, and educational resources. Other platforms and solutions include the Rawdati platform and the virtual kindergarten application, which target children from 3-6 years old. The Ministry of Education also relies on EIN Satellite TV educational channels, which include 24 channels that broadcast materials via satellite and YouTube, are supported by sign language for all educational levels, and are available 24 hours a day. They also include three channels for special education, one for continuing education, and one for kindergarten, in addition to enhancing the digital skills of students through the "Madrasati Codes" competition, in which the Kingdom moved up to ninth place in the Code.org rankings in 2021.
The Ministry encouraged digital transformation in education by implementing the Flexible Learning Paths initiative to enhance professional skills in education through the national e-learning platform, FutureX, in partnership with international platforms Coursera, Edx, Udacity, and Future Learn. The initiative provides beneficiaries with access to more than 10,000 professional courses, programs, and certificates offered by over 300 of the world's top universities and businesses.