The Ministry of Education adopts new testing regulations and conflict of interest prevention measures
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and improving the efficiency of the education system, the Saudi Ministry of Education has approved a new administrative and organizational structure for managing final examinations. This decision comes as part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to develop the educational environment and ensure the highest standards of integrity and fairness in evaluating students' academic achievement, in line with the goals of educational development.
The context of governance and the importance of decision-making
This step represents a qualitative leap in the history of school examination administration, shifting from individual efforts to organized, institutional work governed by precise regulations. These regulations are significant because they eliminate any overlap in authority or conflict of interest, thereby enhancing the credibility of educational certificates issued by Saudi schools and ensuring equal opportunities for all students at all educational levels.
New administrative structure: Academic Achievement Committee
In its new procedural guide, the Ministry adopted a hierarchical administrative model headed by the school principal, who is the primary person responsible, through his leadership of the "Academic Achievement Committee." This committee serves as the supreme supervisory body, ensuring that operations proceed according to approved regulations and systems, and it has four specialized executive arms that cover all stages of the examination process.
Distribute tasks and responsibilities accurately
To ensure the smooth operation of the process, the manual outlined specific tasks for each subcommittee. The "Control and Control Committee" was assigned to the Deputy Director of School Affairs, who oversaw all logistical aspects. His responsibilities included preparing the examination halls, assigning seating numbers, ensuring the walls were free of any educational posters that could compromise the integrity of the exam, and securing and storing the answer sheets.
During the exam, the role of the “Supervision and Observation Committee,” headed by the Undersecretary of Student Affairs, becomes prominent. This committee manages the field, maintains order within the halls, prepares the observers’ schedules, supervises the opening of the question envelopes, and accurately monitors absences and violations.
Post-test phase and rights guarantee
In the subsequent stage, the "Correction, Review, and Audit Committee," chaired by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, begins its work of overseeing the correction process according to the approved answer keys, ensuring that each student receives their full entitlement. The process concludes with the "Monitoring and Results Production Committee," also chaired by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, which is responsible for entering the grades into the electronic systems, printing the final (whitelisted) copies, and verifying the data against official documents.
Preventing conflicts of interest: The most important integrity standard
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the new regulations is the strict emphasis on preventing conflicts of interest. The system mandates that school administrations reassign any committee member to duties completely unrelated to the classes taught by a first-degree relative. This measure aims to eliminate favoritism entirely and ensure that all students are treated equally, reflecting the Ministry's commitment to upholding the values of integrity in the educational field.
