New exam regulations: Teachers are prohibited from serving on committees with relatives
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the education sector, the Saudi Ministry of Education has approved a new administrative and organizational structure for managing final examinations. This step is intended to ensure the proper governance of educational processes and improve operational efficiency within schools through a precise distribution of tasks that prevents conflicts of interest and eliminates any potential duplication of roles.
The context of development and governance in education
This decision comes within the context of the fundamental transformations taking place in the Kingdom's education sector, which align with the goals of Vision 2030 aimed at improving educational outcomes and enhancing the reliability of assessment. Final examinations are the primary standard for measuring students' academic achievement, necessitating the implementation of strict regulations to ensure equal opportunities for all learners. The Ministry is continuously working to update procedural guidelines to keep pace with global best practices in managing educational assessments, thereby strengthening the credibility of educational certificates issued by Saudi schools, both locally and regionally.
New administrative structure: Academic Achievement Committee
In its new organizational guide, the Ministry adopted a hierarchical administrative model that places the "Academic Achievement Committee" at the top of the supervisory pyramid, chaired by the school principal. This committee serves as the primary authority to ensure that the process adheres to regulations and procedures. Four specialized executive arms stem from this central committee, each responsible for managing all logistical, technical, and procedural aspects of the examinations with meticulous precision.
Distribution of tasks and executive committees
The manual precisely defined the tasks to ensure a smooth process. The "Control and Control Committee" was assigned to the Deputy Director of School Affairs, who oversaw all pre- and post-test logistical operations. This committee's responsibilities included preparing the examination halls, assigning seating numbers, ensuring the walls were free of any teaching aids that could compromise the integrity of the test, and receiving and securely storing the answer sheets.
During the exam, the "Supervision and Observation Committee," headed by the Dean of Student Affairs, plays a crucial role in managing the examination process and maintaining order within the halls. This committee manages the invigilators' schedules, oversees the opening of the exam papers, monitors student entry and exit, and records absences and issues official reports of any violations.
Post-test phase: correction and monitoring
To ensure the accuracy of the results, the "Correction, Review, and Audit Committee," chaired by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, begins its work immediately after the exam concludes. This committee oversees the delivery of answer sheets to the examiners, along with the approved answer keys. The committee monitors the accuracy of the marking and review process to guarantee that every student receives their full due without any errors in assessment.
The process concludes with the tasks of the “Monitoring and Results Production Committee,” which is also headed by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs. This committee is responsible for entering grades into the electronic systems (Noor System), extracting the initial results, printing and saving the final approved “whitewashed” copies, and conducting a final audit of student data to ensure that it is completely consistent with the official documents.
Preventing conflicts of interest: The most important integrity standard
To ensure maximum transparency and impartiality, the Ministry has implemented a strict conflict of interest rule. The new system mandates that any committee member assigned to a position completely unrelated to the class in which a first-degree relative is enrolled must be reassigned. This measure is a cornerstone for enhancing public trust in exam results and underscores the Ministry's commitment to the principles of fairness and integrity in student assessment.
