Steps to submit a performance appraisal grievance via the Fares system (2025)

The Saudi Ministry of Education has officially announced the opening of the appeals process for the 2025 performance evaluation results for administrative staff, through its self-service portal, "Faris System." This step reflects the Ministry's commitment to applying the highest standards of transparency and fairness in the workplace, and to enabling employees to exercise their legal right to appeal through the official channels.

Application deadline and timeframe

The ministry clarified that the online portal for submitting grievances became available last Sunday, December 21, 2025, and will remain open for ten days only. The ministry emphasized the importance of employees adhering to the specified timeframe, as no applications will be accepted after the system closes. Therefore, employees are urged to promptly access their personal accounts and take the necessary steps within the allotted period.

Terms and conditions for accepting grievances via Fares

The Ministry of Education has established a set of technical and procedural controls to ensure the acceptance of appeal requests, most notably:

• File format: All supporting evidence and documents for the grievance must be attached in (PDF) format only.
• Source of upload: Requests and attachments are uploaded only through the employee's account in the Fares system.
• Rejected attachments: The ministry confirmed that it will not accept any evidence sent via external links, QR codes, or images taken from social media application conversations, as evidence must be official and directly related to the evaluation criteria.

The importance and impact of job performance evaluation

Performance appraisals are of paramount importance to government employees in the Kingdom, as they are directly linked to annual bonuses and promotions. The performance charter is the primary tool for measuring employee efficiency and the extent to which they achieve their assigned objectives. Therefore, the provision of a grievance mechanism is a fundamental safeguard for protecting employee rights and ensuring that their career paths and financial entitlements are not negatively impacted by any inaccurate or flawed evaluations.

Processing mechanism and the role of the direct supervisor

Regarding the mechanism for handling requests, the ministry indicated a clear procedural sequence within the Fares system. The direct supervisor's role is limited to reviewing the submitted grievance, providing professional feedback, and writing the necessary statement regarding the points of contention raised by the employee. The process involves an electronic approval pathway that begins with the manager's self-service portal, proceeds through the performance management system, and culminates in final approval, thus ensuring the impartiality of the decision and the integrity of the procedures.

Enhancing digital governance in education

The "Faris" system is the cornerstone of the digital transformation of human resources at the Ministry of Education, aiming to automate all administrative and financial procedures. Activating the electronic grievance service aligns with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 to enhance government performance, streamline services for employees, and reduce paperwork, thus contributing to a motivating work environment characterized by transparency and credibility.