Under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Center's Board of Directors, Mr. Yousef Al-Benyan, and in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Education for General Education, Dr. Saad Al-Harbi, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), officially launched today the implementation program for the "Arab Model for Quality and Excellence in Education." The launch also marks the commencement of a four-day educational leadership training program held at the ministry's headquarters in Riyadh, attended by various officials, international organization representatives, educational leaders, and specialists.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Saad Al-Harbi emphasized that implementing this model is an extension of the continuous support and attention dedicated to the Kingdom's education sector by the wise leadership. He added that the initiative aligns with the Ministry of Education's efforts to develop the educational system, enhance output quality, and boost performance efficiency, directly contributing to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in building a globally competitive educational framework that prepares citizens for future development.
Dr. Al-Harbi explained that the Arab Model for Quality and Excellence in Education serves as a unified, systematic Arab initiative designed to support educational institutions in developing their performance, increasing efficiency, and fostering a sustainable educational impact. He noted that the launch is a qualitative step toward embedding a culture of continuous improvement, measuring performance, and linking educational efforts to indicators and outcomes at both strategic and operational levels.
From his side, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mudaires, Director General of the UNESCO Regional Center for Quality and Excellence in Education (RCQE), stated that launching the model in Saudi Arabia marks a transition from conceptual design to practical application. He highlighted that the model is designed as a practical framework to help institutions diagnose their current status, identify development priorities, and build evidence-based improvement plans.
Dr. Al-Mudaires added that Saudi Arabia's implementation of the model holds special significance given its vast educational system and pioneering developmental expertise. This positions the Saudi experience as a benchmark model for other Arab nations, further reflecting the Kingdom's role as the host country for the UNESCO RCQE. He explained that the model encompasses specialized frameworks covering early childhood care and education, technical and vocational education, education in crises and emergencies, and Green Education.
Over its four-day duration, the program is tailored for decision makers and educational leaders across all ministry sectors, features scientific sessions, panel discussions, and specialized training workshops. Led by institutional quality and excellence experts, the program focuses on introducing the model, its application mechanisms, and building national capacities to enhance the sector's regional and international competitiveness.