Saudi was world's best teacher for 2025, education minister says

Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan proclaimed that a Saudi was the world's best teacher for 2025, emphasizing the country's commitment to identifying and nurturing gifted students. Al-Benyan cited teacher training programs as a key factor in discovering talented individuals and cited recent awards as evidence of Saudi Arabia's excellence in education.

The minister boasted that over 72 Saudi teachers received local and international accolades in the past year alone. At a press conference, Al-Benyan revealed that Saudi students had claimed more than 400 awards and medals in 2024, underscoring the accomplishments of both students and educators in various competitions and honors.

To support talent development, Al-Benyan disclosed that more than 4,000 teachers had been specially trained to identify gifted students, while over 495,000 students had taken part in qualifying competitions. Additionally, the minister announced the establishment of several specialized schools dedicated to fostering student abilities.

Al-Benyan also highlighted the launch of a digital platform catering to 500,000 education professionals, as part of ongoing efforts to improve services for those in the education sector. The minister unveiled the official launch of the "Education Portal," describing it as a comprehensive hub for all education-related services. On early childhood education, the minister stated that the ministry is collaborating with private and public sectors to create innovative models aimed at boosting enrollment in workplace-based kindergartens.