Daijiworld Media Network - Riyadh

Riyadh, Sep 27: In a historic move, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan has appointed Dr. Munira bint Badr Al-Mahashir as the Director General of Education for the Eastern Province, making her the first woman to hold this senior regional post.

Dr. Munira, a distinguished academic leader and e-learning pioneer, previously served as Dean of E-Learning and Distance Learning at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University. She is recognized for her work on online learning, digital transformation, accessibility, and AI policy development for universities, equipping her to lead large-scale digital education initiatives across the province.

The appointment marks a milestone for gender representation in Saudi public administration while signalling a strong push towards modernisation. Dr. Munira is expected to prioritise teacher upskilling, the expansion of digital classrooms, and pilot AI-based personalised learning programmes, ensuring equitable access for rural and special-needs schools.

Her leadership blends symbolic significance with practical expertise, aligning with the Ministry’s broader goals under Vision 2030 to enhance educational outcomes and leverage technology across the Eastern Province.