Public schools across all regions and governorates of Saudi Arabia concluded their written end-of-term exams for the first semester on Thursday, marking the end of a crucial assessment period. The conclusion of the exams coincided with strict ministerial directives to school administrations to expedite the monitoring and verification processes through the "Noor" electronic system, in preparation for announcing the final results for students before the end of the school day. This reflects the rapid digital transformation underway in the Kingdom's education sector.
Digital transformation and the "Noor" system
The complete reliance on the central "Noor" system for monitoring and announcing results is part of the Ministry of Education's strategy to align with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 for digital transformation. This system is the backbone of educational administration, providing parents and students with immediate access to results as soon as they are approved. This enhances transparency, facilitates academic follow-up between home and school, and eliminates the anticipation and anxiety that accompanied traditional methods of announcing results.
Strict monitoring and review mechanisms
In order to ensure data accuracy, the Ministry directed examination and control committees in schools to immediately begin the process of marking and meticulously reviewing exam papers. The instructions emphasized the need for zero tolerance in reviewing answer sheets to guarantee that every student receives their full entitlement, while also stressing the importance of entering all data and grades into the electronic system with the utmost accuracy.
Regulations for dealing with those who are absent or have dropped out
Regarding exceptional cases, the ministry has set clear points to prevent individual interpretations, as the regulations have clarified the following:
- Classification of dropouts: The status of students who have dropped out of school during the current semester is monitored by the word “absent” in the system, instead of carrying out a “dismissal” procedure, in order to preserve their academic records and give them an opportunity to return and complete their educational journey without administrative complications.
- Preventing retaking exams: The ministry categorically confirmed that no student who has already taken the end-of-term exam will be allowed to retake it in order to improve their grade, thus ensuring fairness and equal opportunities for all students.
Distribution of grades for special cases
The ministry has established a precise mechanism for dealing with the grades of absent students, to ensure fairness in evaluation:
- Excused absence: The student is given the opportunity to take an alternative exam worth 40 marks, while retaining all the marks for coursework (60 marks).
- Absence without excuse: Attendance and punctuality marks are deducted, and the student is tested out of 60 marks (including short and final tests), while retaining only 40 marks allocated to the rest of the various assessment tools.
These regulatory measures are intended to ensure that the educational process proceeds with high discipline, and to unify standards in all public and private schools, thus guaranteeing educational outcomes of quality and credibility.
