Education Ministry: Ban on Collecting Funds, Donations, and Cash Contributions in Schools

As part of the commitment to enhancing a safe and orderly educational environment, and to consolidate the highest standards of professionalism and responsibility in the educational field—thereby preserving the dignity of learners and staff, safeguarding 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 Work and Conduct within Schools.” This circular encompasses a set of rules governing professional, administrative, and educational practices, emphasizing the obligation of all schools to comply with them.

The circular is issued in accordance with 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 for accepting donations and contributions, and Public Authority for Civil Service Circular No. (2) of 2021 concerning the Code of Conduct for employees of government entities.

The Ministry of Education emphasized that the circular aims to strengthen adherence to existing regulations and systems, and to promote sound professional conduct, aligning with the educational role of the institution and its mission to build generations while providing a safe and motivating school environment for learning and work.

The Ministry clarified that the circular obligates all schools, members of the teaching and administrative staff, and all employees to adhere to 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. The circular also prohibits the sale of goods or services to learners and staff, or the promotion and advertising thereof, as well as the misuse of one’s position or school facilities to achieve any personal or material benefit for oneself or others. It further 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 regulations for school canteens or the circulars issued by the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition and the Ministry of Education.

The Ministry affirmed the necessity of complying with regulations governing food distribution during events, in accordance with Ministry of Health Decision No. (15) of 2025 concerning the issuance of the School Canteens Regulation. This requires verifying the source, safety, and storage methods of food, ensuring compliance with health requirements, alongside daily supervision and monitoring of canteen operations. This includes confirming the regularity of service provision, the quality, safety, and compliance of food and beverages with circulars regulating school canteens, pursuant to Minister 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 discrepancies in displayed items, failure of canteen staff to meet health requirements, or other violations. Furthermore, a designated officer from the team responsible for the school canteen must be appointed to periodically report violations identified through monitoring activities to inspectors from the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, in accordance with Article (6), Paragraph (1) of the aforementioned Minister of Health Decision.

The Ministry of Education also emphasized the necessity of enforcing the conditions 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 case of non-compliance, the contract will be terminated in accordance with the 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. It also prohibits coordinating with, contracting, or hosting any entity, institution, or individual from outside the Ministry to conduct any activity without the approval of the relevant authorities. All activities and events must be limited to achieving clear educational and pedagogical objectives and must be included in the school plan.

The Ministry of Education stressed the prohibition of using the school’s name or the Ministry’s logo in any publications, advertisements, or commercial sponsorships without obtaining the approved 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 Ministry affairs for any reason, particularly the photography of Ministry-affiliated workplaces or employees and the publication of such images. It also prohibits photographing, recording, publishing images of, or disseminating the data of students without obtaining prior written consent that meets the required regulations, and prohibits circulating their images through private accounts or social media groups. Furthermore, it is forbidden to link students’ images with their personal information or to use them for purposes other than their designated educational intent.

The Ministry also stressed 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 work or misusing it. Issuing statements, publishing news or 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 emphasized 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 relevant authorities constitutes an administrative violation that warrants immediate referral for investigation to the Legal Affairs Department within the Ministry, and the application of prescribed disciplinary penalties in accordance with systems and regulations.

The Ministry affirmed the importance of full adherence to professionalism and adopting upright conduct in all actions, stemming from the high role and noble mission of the educational institution in building generations and shaping societal awareness. It emphasized the belief that teachers and administrators serve as primary role models for students, requiring commitment to professional responsibility in performing duties with integrity 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 tarnish the honor or diminish the prestige of the profession. It also called for pedagogical interaction with students, building relationships based on mutual respect, ensuring their psychological and physical well-being, and avoiding any behavior that falls outside the approved educational framework.

The directive also emphasized the importance of fostering mutual respect in the workplace, cultivating a spirit of cooperation and camaraderie among members of the teaching and administrative staff, and resolving disputes through official and recognized administrative channels. It further stressed adherence to administrative discipline, compliance with official working hours, and observance of prevailing regulations and systems, as well as safeguarding the educational institution’s assets and property. Additionally, the directive stipulated that teaching 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 instruction.

The Ministry of Education affirmed that any actions or behaviors that contravene regulations and bylaws or fall outside the bounds of sound professional practices within schools will not be tolerated, and appropriate legal and administrative measures will be promptly taken against any violations. The Ministry mandated school administrations to inform all employees of the directive’s contents, document their acknowledgment of it, and display it in a prominent location as well as through official communication channels. Furthermore, school administrations are responsible for immediately halting any violations when necessary, preserving evidence, preparing an official incident report, and escalating the matter through the administrative hierarchy to the competent authority.

Accordingly, all internal instructions conflicting with this directive are hereby repealed, and it shall take effect from the date of its issuance. Competent authorities shall be responsible for its implementation within their respective jurisdictions.