How was the first comprehensive Saudi standard developed?

A gap revealed by the numbers

  • In a statement by Dr. Saad Al-Harbi (Deputy Minister for Early Childhood Education), it was noted that only 36.7% of early childhood children have classroom environments that meet global requirements, while the target is 90%.

  • Princess Nouf Bint Abdul Rahman explained that 30% of charities' budgets are wasted on 'post-repair' reforms due to the lack of a unified construction standard.

    The result: The necessity of a standard document that minimizes modifications and ensures children's safety and effective learning.

A tripartite partnership for drafting

Entity | Main role | Actual contributions (as mentioned in the forum)

Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) | Regulatory framework and accreditation procedures | National standard models and management of technical working groups

Abdulqader Al-Muheidib Charity Foundation | Field expertise from operating 10 early childhood centers | Database of incidents and designs for sensory rooms and food laboratories

Ministry of Education – Early Childhood Agency | Curriculum integration and 'Masar' standards | Providing the team with pre/post measurement results in Taybah and Qudrat

The five development phases

Phase | Main tools | Duration (months)

1. Needs survey | 32 local documents + 12 interviews | 2

2. Benchmarking | Specifications from Britain, Canada, Singapore… | 1

3. First draft | Workshops with 30 experts | 1

4. Field testing | Implementation in Taybah and Qudrat halls (7300 hours child) | 3

5. Accreditation | Technical review and issuance of standard number | 1

The core of the specification in six points

Item | Main requirement | Impact value (from experiment data)

Net area | ≥ 2.7 m² per child | Reduced distractions by 12%

Child/Teacher ratio | 5:1 | Increased interaction rate by 18%

Multisensory room | Dimmable lighting, different tactile materials | Reduced disruptive behaviors by 28%

Evacuation routes | Two exits at least 1.2 m wide | Experimental evacuation time 90 sec

Ventilation and air quality | CO₂ ≤ 1000 ppm | Reduced respiratory complaints by 7%

Safety equipment | Smoke detectors + extinguishers for every 60 m² | 'Zero' incidents in 18 months

How does your association implement the standard?

Step | Responsible person | Required document

Architectural design compatibility | Consultant + SASO | Verification form A-3

Request for 'Foundational Visit' | Association via the authority platform | Request 01-P

Training personnel | Al-Muheidib Training Institute | Completion Certificate for 30 hours

Data submission to 'Masar' | Quality officer | API V2 integration

Obtaining the classification | Masar Center after one year of operation | Performance report + Parent survey

The expected impact after national implementation

Indicator | Current situation | After specification generalization (estimate)

Modification cost after operation | 15% of project value | ≤ 3%

Incidence rate in classrooms | 4.2 incidents per 100 children/year | ‹ 1

Child transfer rate to inclusive classes | 54% | 72%

Time to issue kindergarten license | 180 days | 90 days

Smart expansion roadmap

  1. Phase 2025–2026: Mandatory compliance with the standard for all new kindergartens in the non-profit sector before issuing a license.
  2. 2027: Linking the second batch of equipment grant to 'full compliance' level in the SASO report.
  3. 2028–2029: Affordable financing program (development fund) to replace old buildings that cannot be adapted.
  4. 2030: Including 'standard compliance' indicator in the 'Masar' ranking and granting 10% weight in government support.

Conclusion

The launch of the first Saudi standard for the optimal environment for kindergartens transitions construction and preparation from individual efforts to a measurable standard. Associations capable of early adoption of the standard will benefit from reduced costs, enhanced safety, and improved learning outcomes—transitioning from merely providing care to shaping a supportive educational foundation for the youngest learners in the Kingdom.