المملكة: Professional license and freedom from criminal record… Conditions for selecting private education directors

The Ministry of Education confirmed the requirement of a professional license, educational experience, and proficiency in the language of the curriculum among the criteria for selecting private education school principals, as part of updating the standards document that aims to raise performance efficiency and ensure the highest levels of quality in the educational process.
The requirements included that the candidate must have a professional license, with at least three years of educational experience and an outstanding level of performance in the last two years, in addition to completing at least 12 hours of training in the field of educational leadership or school administration.
The document required proficiency in the language of the curriculum applied in the school or the English language in international schools with a score of no less than 5 on the IELTS test or its equivalent, with the exception of kindergarten schools that are limited to this stage from some requirements.

Good conduct is a condition for candidacy

The Ministry stressed the importance of the candidate being of good conduct and free of criminal records and dishonorable matters, in addition to passing the personal interview prepared by the school’s owner.
She stressed the need for the candidate to hold a university qualification recognized by the Ministry of Education, with a specialization related to special education or early childhood schools, or to have obtained specialized courses in this field.

The Ministry explained that the school owner is responsible for verifying that candidates meet all requirements and submitting nomination applications electronically to the Private Education Office, which includes a CV, a certified copy of the academic qualification, and proof of identity. The applications are then reviewed by the office to ensure that the documents and conditions are complete, so that assignment decisions are issued and contracting procedures are completed in accordance with the approved systems.

The Ministry also indicated that the document included steps to qualify new candidates through workshops and specialized training courses in coordination with the relevant education departments. She emphasized the criteria for comparison between candidates, which include academic and professional knowledge and skills, participation in professional development and scientific production, in addition to implementing qualitative initiatives and community service.

Job performance evaluation

The Ministry stated that the owner is obligated to evaluate the job performance of the school principal annually according to precise standards and specific indicators, provided that the Special Education Office is informed of the results of the evaluation one month before the end of the school year. She explained that the owner is responsible for addressing any decline in performance, while enhancing outstanding performance to ensure the sustainability of school work efficiently and effectively.

Regarding the procedures for renewing and terminating assignments, the document stipulated the possibility of renewing assignment decisions based on job performance and the continued fulfillment of basic appointment conditions. The assignment may also be terminated if the public interest so requires or in the event of a decline in the level of performance, with the assigned director being given the right to appeal before a specialized committee to consider the decision. The designated director is permitted to submit a written exemption request to the owner, which in turn assigns a temporary replacement until a new nomination request is submitted.

The Ministry confirmed that updating this document aims to enhance governance and transparency in selecting school leaders, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which seeks to develop the private education sector, improve its quality, and support sustainable development.