Deputy Minister of Education issues a directive to regulate behavior and enhance discipline in schools
Alaa Khalifa
In line with the Ministry of Education’s commitment to fostering a safe and disciplined educational environment, and to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility in the educational field—thereby safeguarding the dignity of learners and staff, protecting public funds and data privacy, and ensuring the continuity of school operations—Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Khaled Al-Rashid issued a circular regarding “Regulations and Prohibitions on Conduct and Behavior within Schools.” The circular outlines a set of rules governing professional, administrative, and educational practices, emphasizing the obligation of all schools to comply with them.
The circular is issued pursuant to Ministerial Decision No. (151) of 2026 concerning the Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Education, decisions regulating health and nutritional requirements, Ministry of Finance Decision No. (271) of 2022 regarding regulations on accepting donations and contributions, and Civil Service Bureau Circular No. (2) of 2021 concerning the Code of Conduct for employees of government entities.
The Ministry of Education stressed that the circular aims to reinforce adherence to existing regulations and systems, and to consolidate sound professional behavior, in alignment with the educational institution’s role and its mission to build generations, while providing a safe school environment that stimulates learning and work.
The Ministry clarified that the circular mandates all schools, members of the teaching and administrative staff, and all employees to comply with a set of regulations and prohibitions. Among the most prominent is the prohibition of collecting monetary amounts or accepting cash, in-kind, or other donations or contributions within the school from teachers, administrators, learners, or parents for any purpose.
Furthermore, the circular prohibits the sale of goods or services to learners and staff, or the promotion and advertising thereof, as well as the exploitation of one’s position or school facilities to achieve any personal or material benefit for oneself or others. It also emphasizes that no purchasing, contracting, disbursement, or collection operations shall be conducted except in accordance with established regulations and controls.
Regarding school canteens, the Ministry of Education stressed the prohibition of selling, distributing, or introducing food or beverages from unapproved sources into the school for any reason. It also prohibits operating the canteen or offering products that do not comply with the health requirements for school canteens or with circulars issued by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry affirmed the necessity of adhering to regulations governing food distributions during events, in accordance with Ministry of Health Decision No. (15) of 2025 regarding the issuance of the School Canteens Regulation. This requires verifying the source, safety, and storage methods of food items, ensuring they meet health requirements, alongside daily supervision and monitoring of canteen operations to confirm the regularity of service provision, as well as the quality, safety, and compliance of food and beverages with regulations governing school canteens. This is based on Ministry of Health Decision No. (15) of 2025, issued on May 28, 2025, and Assistant Undersecretary for General Education Circular No. (23) of 2025, issued on September 21, 2025.
The Ministry pointed out the necessity of preparing a daily monitoring log for the school canteen, approved by the school principal, which records all violations, regardless of their nature, including non-compliance of displayed items with standards, failure of canteen staff to meet health requirements, or any other violations.
Additionally, a designated officer from the team responsible for the school canteen must be appointed to periodically report to inspectors from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition any violations resulting from monitoring activities, in accordance with Article (6), paragraph (1) of the aforementioned Ministry of Health Decision.
The Ministry of Education also emphasized the necessity of enforcing the terms of canteen contracts and issuing a warning to the contractor with the school administration to rectify the violation within a specified period of no less than three working days from the date of the warning. In the event of non-compliance, the contract will be terminated in accordance with applicable regulations.
Regarding events, activities, and photography within schools, the Ministry clarified that the circular prohibits organizing any event, activity, or celebration that involves hosting individuals from outside the Ministry of Education, or conducting any photography within the school premises, without obtaining prior explicit written approval from the competent authority within the Ministry.
Coordination, contracting, or hosting any entity, institution, or individual from outside the Ministry to conduct any activity is also prohibited without the approval of the relevant authorities. All activities and events must be limited to achieving clear educational and pedagogical objectives and must be approved as part of the school’s plan.
The Ministry of Education stressed the prohibition of using the school’s name or the Ministry of Education’s logo in any publications, advertisements, or commercial sponsorships without obtaining the required administrative and official approvals and coordination.
Regarding the use of social media, the Ministry emphasized the prohibition of exploiting one’s official position or discussing matters related to the Ministry of Education for any reason, particularly the photography of the Ministry’s facilities or employees and the subsequent publication of such images.
It is also prohibited to photograph, record, publish images of, or disseminate the data of students without obtaining prior written consent that meets the stipulated regulations. Furthermore, their images must not be circulated via private accounts or communication groups, and students’ images must not be linked to their personal information or used for purposes other than their designated educational intent.
The Ministry further confirmed the prohibition of disclosing or leaking school secrets, data, documents, or the information of students, parents, and staff, as well as requesting information unrelated to official duties or misusing such information. Issuing statements, publishing news, or sharing content in the name of the Ministry or the school, or using their logos in advertisements and personal pages, is prohibited unless official permission is obtained from the competent authority.
The circular also stressed the prohibition of publishing rumors, incorrect information, or any content offensive to the Ministry of Education, schools, students, or staff, via social media or other means.
The Ministry of Education clarified that organizing any event without obtaining the required approvals from the competent authorities constitutes an administrative violation that warrants immediate referral for investigation to the Ministry’s Legal Affairs Department, along with the application of prescribed disciplinary penalties in accordance with regulations and bylaws.
The Ministry emphasized the importance of full adherence to professionalism and adopting upright conduct in all actions, stemming from the high role and noble mission of educational institutions in building generations and shaping societal awareness. It is firmly believed that teachers and administrators serve as primary role models for students. This requires fulfilling professional responsibilities with honesty and dedication, and striving for continuous performance improvement to serve the educational process.
The circular further stressed the necessity of exemplifying good conduct and upright behavior, embodying ethical and pedagogical values in daily interactions, and avoiding anything that might compromise the honor or diminish the prestige of the profession. It also called for pedagogical engagement with students, building relationships based on mutual respect, ensuring their physical and psychological well-being, and avoiding any behaviors that fall outside the accepted educational framework.
It also emphasized the importance of fostering mutual respect in the workplace, cultivating a spirit of cooperation and collegiality among members of the academic and administrative staff, and resolving disputes through official and approved administrative channels. This is alongside adherence to administrative discipline, compliance with official working hours, and the regulations and systems in force, as well as safeguarding the educational institution’s property and assets.
The circular further stipulated that academic staff must refrain from using mobile phones or smart devices during class hours for non-educational purposes, in a manner that does not affect the performance of their duties or disrupt the flow of the lesson.
The Ministry of Education stressed that any actions or behaviors that violate regulations and systems or fall outside the bounds of sound professional practices within schools will not be tolerated. Appropriate legal and administrative measures will be taken immediately against any violation.
The Ministry mandated school administrations to inform all employees of the circular’s content, document their awareness of it, and make it available in a prominent location and through official communication channels. School administrations are also responsible for halting any violation immediately when necessary, preserving evidence, preparing an official incident report, and escalating the matter through the administrative chain of command to the competent authority.
Accordingly, the circular abrogates all internal directives that conflict with it, and it shall take effect from the date of its issuance. Competent authorities are tasked with implementing it within their respective areas of responsibility.
