In this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

• Instructional Material: Any format that presents the contents of the curriculum, or part thereof.

• Relevant Agency: The government agency for which the instructional material is designed according to its curricula.

• Owner: The owner of the instructional material, or the person who has the right to dispose thereof.

• License: Approval of instructional material after its final production.

• Marketing: Any form of offering the instructional material for circulation whether for a price or free of charge.

• Qualification Certificate: A certificate granted by the relevant agency to a natural or legal person qualified to work in the field of the production of instructional materials.

• This Law shall apply to instructional material produced locally or abroad.

• Producing or marketing any instructional material containing any of the following shall be prohibited:

  • 1. Any violation of the provisions of Sharia and the public policy and laws of the State.

  • 2. Any violation of the Education Policy approved in the Kingdom.

  • 3. Providing direct answers to textbook questions or exercises.

• Any person seeking to engage in the production of instructional materials shall obtain a certificate of qualification for production from the relevant agency.

• A- Anyone who produces, imports, or publishes educational material must obtain a license from the relevant authority before marketing it. The relevant authority must approve or reject it within sixty days of receiving it, provided it meets the requirements; otherwise, it shall be considered approved.

• B- The relevant authority must collect an inspection fee before starting the examination of the material, based on an amount of two hundred riyals for each hour of work required for the inspection, provided that the minimum amount paid by the owner is one thousand riyals. The owner has no right to a refund, whether the educational material is licensed or not.

• The implementing regulation of this law shall specify the appropriate criteria for estimating the number of inspection hours.

• C- The relevant authority shall determine the inspection procedures and methods, as well as the necessary forms and means required for that.

• D- In the case of approving the educational material, the relevant authority issues a license for its production, marketing, or publication, signed by the head of the relevant authority or by someone authorized by them. This license shall not be considered final until the educational material is cleared by the Ministry of Culture and Information in accordance with the Law on Publications and Publishing.

• The owner shall, in the event of any change requiring further examination, follow the instructions of the relevant agency in this regard and pay the fee specified in Article 5(b).

• Each relevant agency shall establish rules for seeking the assistance of qualified persons to examine the instructional material. The examination fees provided for in this Law shall be allocated to reward examiners who work outside official hours, whether they are internal or external examiners.

• The relevant agency shall not be liable for losses incurred by the owner of the instructional material if the relevant agency’s curricula are developed in a manner that renders the licensed instructional material fully or partially incompatible with the developed curricula.

• The producer or marketer of the instructional material shall deposit a copy thereof with the relevant agency and comply with the provisions of the Deposit Law with regards to deposits made at King Fahad National Library.

• Producers or marketers of instructional materials produced before the implementation of this Law shall submit to the relevant agency an application to obtain the required qualification certificate and license within a period not exceeding nine months from the date this Law enters into force.