With the conclusion of the first semester exams on Thursday, the Ministry of Education issued decisive directives aimed at regulating the educational process and guaranteeing the rights of students and parents. The Ministry resolved the long-standing controversy surrounding private school fees, prohibiting the withholding of academic results due to financial difficulties. Simultaneously, it affirmed the student's right to review their exam paper within five days of the results being announced, and mandated that schools provide a definitive response to any appeals within 24 hours.
Separating educational rights from financial disputes
In a move that underscores the priority of education over commercial considerations, the new regulations, specifically the fourth edition of the "Examinations Guide," unequivocally stipulate that receiving results and certificates is an inherent educational right of the student that cannot be forfeited or postponed for any reason. This step definitively separates the educational process from financial disputes in private and international schools, emphasizing that the collection of tuition fees must be carried out through the appropriate legal and judicial channels without jeopardizing the student's future or psychological well-being. This reflects the Ministry's commitment to the psychological stability of students.
Grievance and transparency mechanism
To enhance transparency and empower parents, the guidelines guarantee their right to formal appeals and a thorough review of answer sheets. The Ministry has mandated that school principals accept appeals immediately upon the announcement of results and for a period of five working days. To ensure efficiency and seriousness, the regulations require the formation of a review committee to decide on the appeal and deliver the final result to the parent within one working day, thus eliminating the lengthy waiting periods that previously caused anxiety for families.
Digital transformation and Noor system
In line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 for digital transformation and the automation of government procedures, the Ministry announced the end of the era of paper stamps and traditional manual authentications. The "digital document" has been adopted through the "Noor" system as an official and verified alternative, with certificates now including a QR code. This technology allows universities and governmental and private entities to instantly verify the authenticity and reliability of certificates, eliminating the previous hassle of visiting schools and education departments to have certified copies stamped, and contributing to faster admission and registration processes in subsequent academic stages.
Accuracy of monitoring and final review
Regarding the technical procedures within the monitoring committees, which began their work immediately after the students left today, the mandatory "final review" mechanism was activated. This mechanism mandates the exclusive use of a "green pen" to review the papers of students who failed or are eligible for leniency, ensuring that every recorded grade has undergone rigorous verification to prevent human error. The Ministry has instructed all schools to record and publish the grades electronically immediately upon completion of the review and verification process, emphasizing that there should be no delay in announcing the results under any pretext, so that students can know their academic standing and prepare for the next semester.
