The Ministry of Education has issued firm and comprehensive directives regarding the procedures for conducting final examinations, emphasizing the need to adhere to professional and ethical standards within examination halls and marking committees. These directives come at a time when the Ministry is striving to ensure the quality of educational outcomes and guarantee that the assessment process is conducted with the highest levels of integrity and transparency.
The context of the procedures and their importance for ensuring the quality of education
These decisions fall within the framework of the Ministry of Education's strategy to develop the academic assessment system. Standardizing and regulating testing procedures is a cornerstone for ensuring fairness among students across the Kingdom. These measures are particularly important given the rapid developments in the education sector, as the Ministry aims to eliminate any practices that could compromise the credibility of academic certificates or affect equal opportunities for learners. This increased oversight is expected to contribute to raising the level of school discipline and enhancing public confidence in academic achievement results.
Prohibition of filming questions and legal accountability
In a move aimed at protecting the confidentiality of exams and students' rights, the Ministry emphasized the prohibition of teachers and all education department staff from photographing exam questions or students' answer sheets by any means. The Ministry made an exception to this prohibition only for official purposes, such as approved auditing and review processes, stressing that any violation of this directive will subject the perpetrator to legal accountability before the relevant official authorities.
Conditional percentage and grade distribution mechanism
The Ministry clarified the details of the grading system in its "Examination Guide," specifying a "conditional passing grade" of 20% of the final written exam score. This requirement applies to elementary and middle school students at the end of the year, as well as to the end-of-term exam for high school students. Grades are calculated as follows: 40 points per term in elementary and middle school, and the same amount per course in high school, ensuring a balanced assessment of student performance throughout the semester.
Correction and final review procedures
The Ministry meticulously organized the marking process, with each teacher responsible for marking their own subject and recording the grades electronically after review. Regarding the final review, regulations stipulated the exclusive use of a green pen for any corrections, strictly prohibiting the use of correction fluid to prevent manipulation. If a grade is changed, the old grade must be crossed out lightly, and the new grade written numerically and in words, along with the teacher's signature. The Ministry also mandated that schools verify data and match names with official identification documents from the beginning of the academic year to ensure the accuracy of the final results.
