Important announcement for teachers: The Ministry of Education reveals the promotion mechanism for 2026
The Saudi Ministry of Education announced the details of the promotion dates and procedures for its teaching staff for the year 2026, a move reflecting its ongoing commitment to developing and motivating teachers' career paths. In its statement, the Ministry emphasized the necessity of fulfilling all regulatory requirements for promotion according to the approved rules and conditions, stressing the importance of verifying the accuracy and consistency of data through official systems, such as the "Faris" system, well in advance of initiating the promotion process.
Historical background and development context within the framework of Vision 2030
These measures are part of the comprehensive development underway in the Kingdom's education sector, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The Vision aims to build an advanced education system focused on enhancing teacher competency, recognizing teachers as the cornerstone of the educational process. Recent years have witnessed significant transformations, most notably the implementation of the new regulations governing educational positions. These regulations have established clear criteria for career advancement, linking promotions to competence, continuous professional development, and obtaining professional licenses, thus ensuring a qualified teaching staff capable of meeting future challenges.
The importance of promotions and their impact on the educational system
Teacher promotions are of paramount importance on several levels. Locally, they boost teacher morale and improve their financial situation, which positively impacts their classroom performance. They also foster a competitive work environment that encourages continuous learning and self-development. Nationally, a fair and transparent promotion system ensures the attraction and retention of the best talent in the teaching profession, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes, higher student achievement, and enhanced rankings in international education indices.
Terms and conditions for promotion to different educational ranks
The ministry explained that the promotion process is subject to precise criteria that vary according to the targeted rank, as follows:
- Upgrading to the rank of practicing teacher: Requires obtaining the necessary professional license that proves the teacher's competence and ability to practice the profession effectively.
- Promotion to the rank of Advanced Teacher: It is required to obtain a job performance evaluation of no less than “very good” in the last three years, in addition to meeting the minimum number of approved professional development points.
- Promotion to the rank of Expert Teacher: Requires higher standards related to outstanding performance and active contributions to the development of the educational environment.
Regulations for promoting employees on the payroll
For employees appointed on a wage basis, the ministry has set special conditions for promotion to the next category, which are:
- The employee must have completed at least four years in the category they occupy.
- Promotion is based on seniority and competence.
- In case of equal seniority, preference is given to the one with a higher academic qualification.
- The academic qualification and job performance evaluation for 2025 must be registered in the Fares system before the date of fulfilling the conditions.
The ministry indicated that the final announcement of promotion results is contingent upon the completion of all procedures, emphasizing that no applications or fulfillment of requirements will be accepted after the deadline. It also noted that any new regulations or instructions regarding promotions will be announced through the ministry's official channels.
