Features and priorities of development of modern education policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

An important part of the social policy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is establishing effective primary and secondary education. By the beginning of the 21st century, the country achieved great success in this direction. In a fairly short historical period, the monarchy made its way from population’s general illiteracy to the modern stage of the developed system of secondary education. The paper analyzes the state and problems of school education development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are described specific features of high school management, as well as different aspects of correcting deficiencies in educational activities. The study considers some ideas presented in the textbooks and which line up with modern education policy of the state. The authors come to the conclusion that the key features of modern secondary education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are the dominant role of the state, the priority of national traditions over outdated religious dogmas with a noticeable influence of moderate Islamic traditions.