The substitute exams have begun, and grades will be distributed to absent students and those who failed courses
This morning, make-up exams began in all schools under the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for students who missed the first semester final exams. These exams include those who were unable to attend, whether due to valid medical or administrative reasons, or without a valid reason. Additionally, make-up exams are being held for high school students who failed courses. This initiative reflects the Ministry's commitment to addressing learning gaps and ensuring the smooth continuation of the educational process.
Regarding the details of the approved grading mechanism, the Ministry of Education has adopted a precise system that ensures fairness and equal opportunities. Students absent with a valid excuse in all three educational stages are assessed out of 40 points. For the secondary stage, the maximum grade for students absent without a valid excuse is set at 60 points. Furthermore, students who failed courses in previous years are tested in the parallel semester out of a total of 100 points, providing them with a genuine opportunity to adjust their academic path.
This step comes within the broader context of developing the Kingdom's education system. The alternative testing system reflects the flexibility of the modern education system (the three-semester system) and its ability to accommodate unforeseen circumstances that students may face. These tests are an essential part of the regulations aimed at reducing failure and grade repetition rates, which contributes to increasing the operational efficiency of schools and minimizing educational waste. These are policies adopted by the Ministry to ensure the sustainability of education for all.
In terms of importance and impact, conducting these tests on schedule is a fundamental pillar in achieving the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. By giving opportunities to struggling or absent students, the Ministry ensures that students do not delay their graduation compared to their peers, which will positively impact the labor market in the future and achieve psychological and social stability for families and students alike.
To guarantee students' rights and ensure accurate monitoring, the Ministry has mandated a specific deadline for schools, extending until the 17th of Sha'ban, for submitting requests to amend first-semester grades and address any discrepancies that may arise during the electronic monitoring process through the approved systems. This reinforces the principles of transparency and reliability in the final results.
The ministry stressed in its directives to educational departments and education offices the need for strict adherence to the timetables and technical standards for the tests, stressing that discipline in these procedures is a standard for the quality of educational outcomes, and a necessary step to complete students’ academic files in preparation for the upcoming semesters.
