Private schools that have replaced Saudi school syllabi with their own without the permission of the Ministry of Education will be punished, said an official ministry source. The ministry issued the warning after noting last year that some schools had abandoned the national syllabus to adopt other curricula.

“The ministry’s inspectors closely monitored private schools and made surprise visits last year to see that no school violated regulations regarding the curriculum,” the source said.

He added that schools should present matters pertaining to needing additional buildings, a change in curriculum or other facilities for developmental purposes to the General Administration of Education and obtain the ministry’s preliminary permission before embarking on any initiative.

The ministry also warned private schools against launching enrichment programs without seeking permission from the general administration. The source added that the ministry would not make compromises in regulations governing expat teachers and other workers. The Ministry of Labor insists that non-Saudi workers should not be assigned jobs other than what is specified on their iqama (residency permit), he said.

Private schools should also present their annual plans to the Ministry of Education at the beginning of the school year.

The Ministry of Education issued the guidelines for alternative syllabi and enrichment programs for private schools in a directory in 2009.

The ministry stressed the significant role played by the private sector to achieve educational progress. It also encouraged special programs to further strengthen the school’s educational program by selecting a high-quality syllabus and fulfilling the demands of the Saudi educational system.

The guidelines clearly describe how private schools can gain accreditation for alternative syllabi and enrichment programs. Centralized accreditation control and school inspection are, in fact, major features of the scientific framework for the guidelines. The directory also provides checks and balances for any new curriculum a school would like to adopt, the source said.

The guidelines also help schools to look for new educational products that would strengthen the educational process but remain in line with the basic principles that govern the curricula in the Kingdom.