Promoting innovation in Saudi public education schools: The perspective of school employees

The study aimed to identify effective innovation indicators in public education schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A mixed-method sequential exploratory design was used starting with interviews of fourteen experts in the fields of talent, creativity and educational excellence. A questionnaire was developed that consisted of seven main innovation indicators, divided into 78 sub-indicators based on the results of these interviews. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 694 participants including school principals, deputies and teachers. The findings revealed that the overall achievement of innovation indicators in public education schools was moderate. These results suggest that there is a moderate level of implementation of innovation indicators. Further efforts are needed to enhance their effectiveness in Saudi public schools. The study provides a valuable framework for educational policymakers and school administrators to promote innovation within educational environments. This framework can serve as a guide for future efforts to improve the innovative capacity of public schools and enhance their ability to achieve educational excellence. The study offers practical insights for fostering a culture of innovation that supports continuous improvement in the Saudi education system by focusing on strengthening the identified indicators.