Saudi education ministry unveils new tech platform and major training drive

Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan unveiled a new digital platform and an extensive training program for Saudi Arabian educators, along with enhanced support for gifted students. Speaking at a press conference, Al-Benyan detailed ambitious plans for the approaching academic year. The education sector will benefit from a state-of-the-art digital platform catering to 500,000 educators, complemented by training for over 240,000 teaching staff.

The announcement also revealed that 200 new buildings have been constructed specifically for the private education sector, providing 160,000 additional seats for students. Furthermore, more than 36 million textbooks have been distributed to schools prior to the summer break.

Al-Benyan emphasized an important change in attendance policies, stating that teachers' attendance at schools will conclude with the end of each school day, as per the individual school schedules. In recognition of academic excellence, he highlighted that 70% of Saudi scholarship recipients are enrolled at the world's top 50 universities, and more than 45,000 students have enrolled in specialized schools to nurture gifted learners.

To identify and support these talented students, Al-Benyan disclosed that over 4,000 teachers have been trained to recognize gifted students, and more than 495,000 students have participated in qualifying competitions. The minister confirmed the establishment of several specialized schools dedicated to fostering student talent.

The Education Minister concluded his address by officially launching the "Education Gateway," a comprehensive online portal designed to provide students, teachers, and parents with seamless access to all education-related services under one roof.