Saudi Arabia revokes licenses of 74 private schools over safety and regulatory violations World News
Saudi Arabia’s education authorities have revoked the operating licenses of 74 private schools in several cities in the kingdom, tightening oversight as part of wider efforts to protect student safety and maintain standards in the private education industry.The Saudi Ministry of Education announced the decision after discovering repeated regulatory violations by the affected institutions. Officials said the move reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment and ensuring that private schools meet all approved educational and operational requirements.According to the Department for Education, inspections carried out over the past period revealed that some schools had failed to renew their licenses or comply with the latest regulatory conditions. The failings prompted enforcement actions as schools continued to operate despite failing to meet mandatory standards designed to protect students and maintain the quality of education.The violations identified included the lack of a valid operating license and approved security permits, in particular a civil defense certificate. Both documents are mandatory for private schools to continue operating legally in the Kingdom. The Department stresses that operating without these approvals poses a direct risk to students and undermines the integrity of the educational environment.To prevent disruption to students’ education, the Ministry of Education said it has put measures in place to ensure continuity of learning. Affected students have been transferred directly to public schools, while parents can also choose to transfer their children to a private school of their choice. Officials say the aim is to allow students to complete their studies uninterrupted in a safe and appropriate environment closer to home.The license revocation was followed by a series of regulatory actions, escalating warnings and multiple opportunities for corrective action. The Ministry of Education pointed out that the school concerned failed to resolve the violation within the stipulated time. It cited growing risks associated with continued non-compliance, irregular education practices and license holders’ inability to meet basic operating standards as the main reasons for the decision.Officials said inspections and enforcement efforts will continue as part of ongoing monitoring of private education institutions across the country.
