Articles

Artificial Intelligence in School Leadership and Decision-Making: Perspectives from Public Secondary Schools in Northern Saudi Arabia

Fatima Abdulhakim Aloteibi
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Received2026-02-24
Revised2026-03-12
Accepted2026-07-26
Published2026-08-19

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence in School Leadership and Decision-Making: Perspectives from Public Secondary Schools in Northern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Against the backdrop of Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Data and Artificial Intelligence, this study examines how leaders of public secondary schools in northern Saudi Arabia perceive the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in school leadership, with a focus on decision-making. A qualitative survey explored participants’ familiarity with AI tools, their self-reported proficiency, and their views on potential applications. Thirty school leaders responded, yielding a 15% response rate.

Respondents saw potential for AI to improve the efficiency of instructional planning and administrative workflows and to support data-informed decisions. They also raised concerns about academic integrity, particularly possible student misuse of AI while preparing for national assessments such as the General Aptitude Test (Qudurat) and the Standardised Achievement Admission Test (Tahsili). Other concerns included algorithmic bias, data privacy, and limited familiarity with AI tools. Participants called for structured professional development, wider dissemination of the Ministry of Education’s existing Artificial Intelligence Guide for general education, practical support for applying it at the school level, and broader institutional support for responsible AI use.

Keywords — Artificial intelligence, school leadership, data-informed decision-making, secondary education, academic integrity, Saudi Arabia.

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