IMPACT-se’s latest review of the Saudi national curriculum evaluates textbooks currently taught in the 2022–23 school year, and looks at any changes made compared to previous editions. The report examined the entire humanities corpus over the last five years, totaling 301 textbooks, and including 80 textbooks for the current 2022–23 school year. Our findings reveal an overall trend of improvement and reform, building on the gradual removal of problematic content in Saudi textbooks since IMPACT-se’s 2020 report. A significant number of examples teaching harmful material on Jews and Christians, violent jihad, gender, and homosexuality have been removed, and negative portrayals of infidels have been moderated. The depiction of Israel and Zionism also shows some progress despite the existence of negative material, with an entire chapter containing harmful material on Israel removed. Textbooks criticize the ideologies of terror groups, and other concepts which as perceived as challenging the Saudi government. The importance of peace, tolerance, and respect for the Other are emphasized, reflecting a move toward moderation, openness, and peaceful development.
