Project Education Workforce Development Middle East 07.01.2026
Empowering Cultural Schools in KSA
Ministry of Culture & Ministry of Education – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2024–2026
The Challenge
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education identified a strategic need to embed art and culture into the school experience. The goal is to cultivate a generation of students who are culturally grounded, creatively empowered, and aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aspirations for a vibrant society and thriving creative economy.
An Assured Solution
The Cultural Schools initiative is a joint effort led by PWC/ Emkan Education, with Etio serving as the education quality advisor.
Rationale
This initiative comes at a pivotal time in Saudi Arabia’s transformation, where cultural education is seen as a cornerstone of national development. Our solution ensures that art and cultural learning is embedded in the school ecosystem, not treated as a peripheral subject.
Our Process
Etio is developing a comprehensive Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), along with policies and procedures that guide implementation. Our team is also executing a two-year mentoring program focused on school improvement and capacity building.
The framework draws on global best practices in education quality and cultural pedagogy, adapted to the Saudi context. We are setting the agenda by integrating art and culture learning into school improvement models and aligning with Vision 2030 goals.
Collaboration
We work closely with both ministries, PWC, Emkan, and public schools to co-design solutions, build capacity, and ensure sustainable impact. Our mentoring model is collaborative, data-informed, and tailored to each school’s context.
Delivering with Impact
KPIs
- Integration of cultural content in curriculum and activities
- Improved student engagement and cultural awareness
- Enhanced teacher capacity in cultural pedagogy
- School leadership effectiveness in cultural programming
Measurement
- Baseline and endline school reviews
- Student and teacher surveys
- Classroom observations
- Cultural activity audits
