First semester results via Noor system... Education Ministry explains grading mechanism
Public schools in Saudi Arabia concluded their end-of-term written exams for the first semester on Thursday, amidst intensive educational activity and strict ministerial directives aimed at ensuring the accurate and transparent conclusion of the semester's activities. This step culminates months of efforts, with the Ministry of Education instructing school administrations in all regions and governorates to expedite the monitoring and verification processes through the "Noor" electronic system, in preparation for announcing the final results before the end of the school day.
Noor System and Digital Transformation in Education
The Ministry's reliance on the central "Noor" system for announcing results is an integral part of the Kingdom's digital transformation strategy under Vision 2030. The education system has transitioned from traditional paper-based monitoring to a fully integrated digital environment that ensures rapid access to information and data accuracy. This system contributes to strengthening the partnership between schools and families, enabling parents to monitor their children's academic progress in real time. This reflects the advanced technological infrastructure of the education sector in Saudi Arabia compared to many other educational systems in the region.
Strict mechanisms for monitoring grades and addressing absences
In its commitment to the students' best interests, the Ministry emphasized the necessity of entering all data and grades into the central system with utmost accuracy. Official instructions outlined a specific procedure for dealing with students who have dropped out. Instead of being "dismissed," their status will be recorded as "absent" in the electronic system. This measure aims to preserve their academic records and give them an opportunity to return and complete their education, reflecting the Ministry's dedication to reducing school dropout rates.
The ministry also obligated schools to conduct a comprehensive survey of the number of male and female students who were absent from the exams with an acceptable excuse, in order to include them in the lists of alternative exams according to the approved timetables, to ensure the achievement of educational fairness.
Examination and final assessment guidelines
The ministry has preemptively blocked any individual interpretations that might compromise fairness, categorically stating that no student who has already taken the end-of-term exam to improve their grades will be allowed to retake it, regardless of the reason. The regulations clearly outline the mechanism for evaluating students absent with a valid excuse: they will be given a make-up exam worth 40 points, while retaining their full coursework grade of 60 points.
As for students absent without a valid excuse, the system deducts attendance points. Their final exams are worth 60 points, including quizzes and final exams, while they retain only 40 points allocated to other assessment components. These measures aim to instill values of school discipline and responsibility in students and ensure the educational process adheres to consistent institutional standards.
