In a move aimed at enhancing the integrity of the educational process and ensuring equal opportunities for all students, the Saudi Ministry of Education has approved a new and stringent technical and organizational protocol to regulate the mechanisms of "remote electronic examinations." These measures are included in the general guide for the academic year 1447 AH (2025 CE), targeting students with special circumstances that prevent them from attending schools in person.
The context of digital transformation and quality assurance
This step comes as a continuation of the digital transformation that the Kingdom's education system has witnessed in recent years, as the Ministry seeks to bridge the gap between the school and home environments. Distance learning is no longer merely an emergency option, but has become an educational path that requires quality standards equivalent to in-person education. These new regulations aim to maintain the credibility of academic certificates and educational outcomes, and to ensure that the grades awarded accurately reflect the student's academic achievement without any external influences.
A controlled testing environment and digital monitoring
The new regulations set precise standards for the home testing environment, requiring students to have a secluded and completely quiet space with adequate and continuous lighting, and to be free of any additional electronic devices or people whose presence might raise suspicion. The ministry also mandated that the camera and microphone be switched on continuously throughout the test, requiring students to look exclusively at the test screen and maintain complete silence to prevent any behavior that could be interpreted as an attempt to cheat.
Identity and uniform verification
To ensure maximum security, the protocol requires students to clearly display their national ID or identification card in front of the camera before beginning the session for digital verification. The instructions also require students to conduct a comprehensive 360-degree scan of their seating area and surroundings via camera at the start of the session to provide immediate proof that the location is free of any unauthorized devices.
Among the most prominent conditions stipulated in the regulations is the requirement to wear the official school uniform during the live broadcast of the exam. This condition carries significant educational and psychological implications, as it helps students appreciate the seriousness of the educational situation and respect the sanctity of the exam, thus promoting self-discipline even outside the school environment.
Dealing with technical malfunctions
Regarding the technical aspects, the Ministry has put in place flexible solutions to guarantee students' rights. The regulations grant teachers exceptional authority to allow students to re-enter the exam if they encounter a technical issue during the first half of the allotted time. School administrations have also been instructed to schedule urgent alternative exam dates in the event of widespread technical malfunctions, with the possibility of granting additional time to students experiencing technical difficulties, or referring their case to the emergency exams committee to be considered excused absences if they are unable to complete the exam.
