The Saudi Ministry of Education has announced the start of the application period for the “Fursah” program, dedicated to those holding educational positions for the academic year 1447 AH. This step reflects the Ministry's ongoing commitment to developing educational staff and achieving optimal distribution of human resources. The Ministry clarified that the online application portal will be available through the “Faris” system from 8 to 17 Sha'ban 1447 AH, corresponding to January 27 to February 5, 2026.

General context and historical background of the “Opportunities” program

The “Fursah” program was first launched two years ago as part of the Ministry’s digital transformation initiatives. Its primary goal is to address the shortage of teaching positions across the Ministry, its education departments, schools, and government-run special education institutes and programs. The program offers a modern alternative to traditional teacher transfer procedures, providing a centralized and transparent platform that allows teachers to view and apply for available vacancies electronically, ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all applicants.

The importance of the program and its expected impact

The “Opportunities” program is of strategic importance as it aligns directly with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the public sector and developing human capital. Locally, the program contributes to the job and psychological stability of teachers by allowing them to transfer to regions of their choice, which positively impacts their professional performance and the quality of educational outcomes. The program also helps education departments address shortages in certain specializations and remote areas more quickly and effectively.

The program is expected to enhance the resilience of the education system and its ability to adapt to changes, by providing decision-makers with accurate and up-to-date data on the supply and demand for teaching staff. Applications submitted through “Fursah” include a diverse range of high-quality career opportunities, not limited to teaching positions, but extending to school administrations (such as principals and vice-principals) and supervisory roles within education departments, thus opening up broader horizons for the professional and leadership development of national talent.

Application process and next steps

The Ministry called on all education professionals interested in benefiting from the program to regularly access their personal accounts on the “Faris” system during the specified application period to view available opportunities and specializations and apply according to the approved mechanism and announced conditions. This step underscores the pivotal role of the “Faris” system as a comprehensive self-service platform for Ministry of Education employees.

The Saudi capital, Riyadh, concluded the ministerial meeting held as part of the third International Labour Conference, witnessing a historic consensus among 40 labor ministers and high-level officials on six strategic measures aimed at reshaping the future of global labor markets. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, and saw broad participation from G20 countries, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas, in addition to the presence of the Director-General of the International Labour Organization, Gilbert Houngbo, reflecting the global significance of this event.

General context: Confronting global transformations

This conference comes at a critical juncture, as labor markets worldwide face unprecedented challenges driven by accelerated digital transformation, the rise of artificial intelligence, demographic shifts, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors have created an urgent need to rethink traditional employment and skills development policies. The Kingdom is hosting this global dialogue in line with its Vision 2030, which places human capital development and workforce empowerment at the heart of its objectives, striving to build a diversified and sustainable economy based on future competencies and skills.

A six-point roadmap for the future

The meeting discussions focused on aligning employment policies with future requirements, and resulted in ministers agreeing on a clear roadmap that includes six key actions:

1. Skills recognition and transferability: Developing standardized methodologies for skills recognition across borders and sectors, enhancing workforce flexibility and mobility in a dynamic labor market.
2. Responsible use of artificial intelligence: Guiding the adoption of AI technologies in labor market systems to ensure transparency and fairness, while establishing governance and oversight frameworks that prevent bias and promote efficiency.
3. Adapting social protection systems: Updating social safety nets to be more flexible and better able to support workers during periods of career transition or income interruption, in line with new work patterns.
4. Enhancing the use of data and analytics: Leveraging big data to connect job seekers with suitable opportunities, identify skills gaps, and guide training and development programs more effectively.
5. Improving workforce planning: Building proactive workforce planning models capable of anticipating economic disruptions and structural shifts, and equipping the workforce with the skills needed for the future.
6. Developing pathways to employment: Facilitating young people's entry into the labor market and providing clear pathways for those who have left work to return, ensuring sustainable and valuable career advancement.

Importance and expected impact

This agreement represents a pivotal step towards strengthening international cooperation to address shared challenges. Domestically, it reinforces the Kingdom's position as a thought leader and a global platform for dialogue on the future of work, and supports its efforts to reform the local labor market. Regionally and internationally, it provides a common framework that countries can use to guide the development of their national policies and encourages the exchange of expertise and best practices. Minister Al-Rajhi emphasized in his remarks that "constructive dialogue is the foundation for strengthening international cooperation and achieving tangible results," stressing that this meeting is a cornerstone for achieving this goal.