Leadership Development in Saudi Arabia: Impact of the Tatweer Programme

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 4, 899 - 944, 24.12.2025

Zayed Alziyadi , Tony Bush

https://doi.org/10.30828/real.1602582

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the Tatweer programme on leadership development practices in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from two schools that participated in the Tatweer programme. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 participants, including junior teachers, senior teachers and principals. The results indicate that the Tatweer programme supports the Saudi Ministry of Education's objective to decentralise the educational system and has contributed to enhancing the leadership skills of the participating schools. However, the Tatweer programme’s selective participation system creates a significant divide between Tatweer and non-Tatweer schools, depriving the latter of this opportunity to participate in school leadership development. The findings of the study also suggest that the Tatweer programme is not widely supported by Tatweer school teachers, reducing the impact of the initiative.

Keywords

School Leadership Development , Saudi Arabia , Tatweer programme , Identity , Socialisation

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