Educational Decentralization Efforts in a Centralized Country: Saudi Tatweer Principals’ Perceptions of their New Authorities

This study captures the perspectives of school principals in Saudi Arabia regarding the new authorities granted to them as part of their country’s education decentralization efforts. Specifically, it explores these principals’ perceived ability to implement the new authorities, the levels of support they received, the effectiveness, and any additional authorities they desire. This study provides an opportunity to analyze the early efforts of a country with a very centralized educational system to implement decentralization efforts. A total of 173 Tatweer school principals completed an online survey, and findings suggest these Saudi principals perceived a limited ability to implement the authorities, low to moderate support, and only slight agreement that the authorities would achieve desired outcomes. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the principals’ perceived ability to implement administrative authorities, perceived support in implementing technical authorities, and years of experience predicted their beliefs about the effectiveness of the authorities