Educating a Nation: How Saudi Arabia Is Rethinking the Classroom

For many visitors, the biggest surprise about Saudi Arabia isn’t the architecture, the culture, or even the heat—it’s how seriously the country takes education. From preschool to PhDs, Saudi Arabia has built an education system that blends tradition with growing global ambition. While reforms have modernized teaching methods in recent years, understanding the structure—especially for those unfamiliar with the region—requires a quick tour through the basics.

Not long ago, classrooms across the country looked very different from those of today. Lessons were delivered in a one-directional style, with teachers writing on blackboards while students copied silently into notebooks. Memorization was the main goal, and creativity was often discouraged. There were few extracurricular activities, little room for open discussion, and even fewer resources like labs or libraries in many public schools. English was introduced late, computer classes were rare, and most students, especially girls, had limited pathways after high school.

That picture is changing—quickly. 

Saudi Arabia now follows a K–12 system, meaning children move through kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, and secondary stages before entering university. Kindergarten, or rawdah, starts around age three and continues until age five or six. While not mandatory, it’s increasingly popular among families, especially in cities, and helps children develop early literacy, numeracy, and social skills. In the past, this stage of education was almost entirely informal or limited to elite private schools.

Elementary school begins at age six and lasts six years. This is where formal education starts. Children learn Arabic, Islamic studies, math, science, and increasingly, English. Public schools are free for Saudi citizens, and from the first grade onward, classrooms are gender-segregated—boys and girls attend different schools with male and female teachers, respectively. Today, many classrooms are equipped with digital whiteboards and internet access, a sharp contrast to the chalk-and-talk method of just a generation ago.

After elementary school, students enter intermediate school for three years. This stage builds on earlier subjects and introduces national exams that prepare students for the next level. While the teaching approach has traditionally relied on repetition and strict discipline, schools now emphasize technology use, group learning, and more varied forms of assessment, especially in urban centers.

Secondary school, which spans the final three years of pre-university education, gives students a choice. They may follow a scientific stream, focusing on math, physics, biology, and chemistry, or a literary stream, focusing on Arabic, Islamic law, history, and social studies. Some schools also offer technical or vocational tracks. At the end of secondary school, students receive the General Secondary Education Certificate (Thanawiya Amma), which determines their eligibility for university admission.

In the past, students—especially girls—had limited access to higher education or professional degrees. Today, those same students are enrolling in science, engineering, medicine, and law in increasing numbers, and often in newly built university campuses with modern labs, libraries, and lecture halls. Online platforms like Madrasti now allow students to submit assignments, attend virtual classes, and interact with educational resources beyond the traditional classroom.

Alongside public education, there is a growing network of private and international schools. These schools offer a range of global curricula such as the British (IGCSE and A-levels), American (SAT and AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), as well as French, German, Indian, and Pakistani systems. https://schools.madrasati.sa Most are bilingual, with Arabic and English instruction, and cater to both expatriates and Saudi families looking for a different approach to learning.

In cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar, it’s increasingly common to find Saudi students in IB or British curriculum schools. These schools tend to be co-educational, offer smaller class sizes, and emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and global awareness. In the past, only a small elite had access to such schools, but today, many middle-class families view them as a realistic and desirable option. “My daughter is in an IB school in Riyadh,” says Samiya, a mother of three. “She studies Arabic and religion, but also French, environmental systems, and global politics. It’s a mix of both worlds.”

Higher education in Saudi Arabia is provided free of charge to Saudi citizens at public universities. There are more than 40 universities across the country, including King Saud University in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and Princess Nourah University, the largest women’s university in the world. Science and engineering programs are often taught in English, and many students receive a monthly stipend while enrolled. In earlier decades, university seats were limited and largely centered around Islamic and humanities disciplines. Now, universities offer a much broader range of majors, with state-of-the-art facilities and partnerships with global institutions.

In addition to domestic universities, Saudi Arabia has long invested in sending students abroad. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program, launched in the early 2000s, has supported tens of thousands of Saudis in studying abroad in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Japan. The scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, and travel, with the goal of bringing back skills to benefit Saudi Arabia. .https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/Scholarship/Pages/default.aspx

“Studying in Canada changed how I think and work,” said Abdulrahman, a mechanical engineer. “But it was always clear I would come back and use those skills here.” Many of these returning graduates now work in areas such as tech, healthcare, engineering, law, and academia—helping to shape the country’s next phase of development.

At the same time, Saudi universities are slowly beginning to welcome more international students and faculty, as the country seeks to build research ties and broaden cultural exchange. Institutions like KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) are known for cutting-edge research and international partnerships.

The Saudi education system has come a long way. While challenges remain—such as disparities between urban and rural schools, and the need for continued teacher training—the general direction is clear. From chalkboards to coding bootcamps, the classroom is no longer just a place to memorize but a place to grow.

Whether it’s a six-year-old learning both Arabic grammar and basic programming, or a university graduate returning home with a degree from Tokyo or Toronto, education in Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the most dynamic—and quietly transformative—sectors in the country.

For many visitors, the biggest surprise about Saudi Arabia isn’t the architecture, the culture, or even the heat—it’s how seriously the country takes education. From preschool to PhDs, Saudi Arabia has built an education system that blends tradition with growing global ambition. While reforms have modernized teaching methods in recent years, understanding the structure—especially for those unfamiliar with the region—requires a quick tour through the basics.

Not long ago, classrooms across the country looked very different from those of today. Lessons were delivered in a one-directional style, with teachers writing on blackboards while students copied silently into notebooks. Memorization was the main goal, and creativity was often discouraged. There were few extracurricular activities, little room for open discussion, and even fewer resources like labs or libraries in many public schools. English was introduced late, computer classes were rare, and most students, especially girls, had limited pathways after high school.

That picture is changing—quickly.

Saudi Arabia now follows a K–12 system, system, meaning children move through kindergarten, elementary, intermediate, and secondary stages before entering university. Kindergarten, or rawdah, starts around age three and continues until age five or six. While not mandatory, it’s increasingly popular among families, especially in cities, and helps children develop early literacy, numeracy, and social skills. In the past, this stage of education was almost entirely informal or limited to elite private schools.

Elementary school begins at age six and lasts six years. This is where formal education starts. Children learn Arabic, Islamic studies, math, science, and increasingly, English. Public schools are free for Saudi citizens, and from the first grade onward, classrooms are gender-segregated—boys and girls attend different schools with male and female teachers, respectively. Today, many classrooms are equipped with digital whiteboards and internet access, a sharp contrast to the chalk-and-talk method of just a generation ago.

After elementary school, students enter intermediate school for three years. This stage builds on earlier subjects and introduces national exams that prepare students for the next level. While the teaching approach has traditionally relied on repetition and strict discipline, schools now emphasize technology use, group learning, and more varied forms of assessment, especially in urban centers.

Secondary school, which spans the final three years of pre-university education, gives students a choice. They may follow a scientific stream, focusing on math, physics, biology, and chemistry, or a literary stream, focusing on Arabic, Islamic law, history, and social studies. Some schools also offer technical or vocational tracks. At the end of secondary school, students receive the General Secondary Education Certificate (Thanawiya Amma), which determines their eligibility for university admission.

In the past, students—especially girls—had limited access to higher education or professional degrees. Today, those same students are enrolling in science, engineering, medicine, and law in increasing numbers, and often in newly built university campuses with modern labs, libraries, and lecture halls. Online platforms like Madrasti now allow students to submit assignments, attend virtual classes, and interact with educational resources beyond the traditional classroom.

Alongside public education, there is a growing network of private and international schools. These schools offer a range of global curricula such as the British (IGCSE and A-levels), American (SAT and AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), as well as French, German, Indian, and Pakistani systems. https://schools.madrasati.sa Most are bilingual, with Arabic and English instruction, and cater to both expatriates and Saudi families looking for a different approach to learning.

In cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar, it’s increasingly common to find Saudi students in IB or British curriculum schools. These schools tend to be co-educational, offer smaller class sizes, and emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and global awareness. In the past, only a small elite had access to such schools, but today, many middle-class families view them as a realistic and desirable option. “My daughter is in an IB school in Riyadh,” says Samiya, a mother of three. “She studies Arabic and religion, but also French, environmental systems, and global politics. It’s a mix of both worlds.”

Higher education in Saudi Arabia is provided free of charge to Saudi citizens at public universities. There are more than 40 universities across the country, including King Saud University in Riyadh, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and Princess Nourah University, the largest women’s university in the world. Science and engineering programs are often taught in English, and many students receive a monthly stipend while enrolled. In earlier decades, university seats were limited and largely centered around Islamic and humanities disciplines. Now, universities offer a much broader range of majors, with state-of-the-art facilities and partnerships with global institutions.

In addition to domestic universities, Saudi Arabia has long invested in sending students abroad. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Scholarship Program,, launched in the early 2000s, has supported tens of thousands of Saudis in studying abroad in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Japan. The scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, and travel, with the goal of bringing back skills to benefit Saudi Arabia. https://www.moe.gov.sa/en/Scholarship/Pages/default.aspx

“Studying in Canada changed how I think and work,” said Abdulrahman, a mechanical engineer. “But it was always clear I would come back and use those skills here.” Many of these returning graduates now work in areas such as tech, healthcare, engineering, law, and academia—helping to shape the country’s next phase of development.

At the same time, Saudi universities are slowly beginning to welcome more international students and faculty, as the country seeks to build research ties and broaden cultural exchange. Institutions like KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology are known for cutting-edge research and international partnerships.

The Saudi education system has come a long way. While challenges remain—such as disparities between urban and rural schools, and the need for continued teacher training—the general direction is clear. From chalkboards to coding bootcamps, the classroom is no longer just a place to memorize but a place to grow.

Whether it’s a six-year-old learning both Arabic grammar and basic programming, or a university graduate returning home with a degree from Tokyo or Toronto, education in Saudi Arabia is becoming one of the most dynamic—and quietly transformative—sectors in the country.

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