Education: Suspension from school if absences exceed 10% without excuse
In a decisive step aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the education system and ensuring the seriousness of academic achievement, the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established strict rules to regulate school discipline , emphasizing that regular attendance is the cornerstone of academic success. These measures come in response to the challenges posed by frequent absences to the stability of the educational process, and are in line with the objectives of the Human Capital Development Program (one of the programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030), which seeks to cultivate a disciplined and globally competitive generation.
Mechanism for calculating attendance grades and penalties
The ministry revealed details of the attendance policy, allocating 100 points to be included in the student's overall grade point average. The policy is based on a direct deduction system, where one point is deducted for each day of absence without a valid excuse. This digital policy aims to reinforce the value of commitment among both students and parents, making discipline a tangible factor that impacts final results.
The 10% rule and exclusion from education
The ministry has established a strict, non-negotiable threshold: a student's absence exceeding 10% of total school days without a valid excuse. The ministry has clarified the consequences of reaching this threshold, which vary depending on the grade level.
- Primary and intermediate levels: Exceeding the percentage will result in the student being denied the opportunity to move on to the next academic year (repeating the year).
- Secondary level: This results in the student being prevented from moving on to the next semester or taking the final exams for the registered courses.
At the same time, the regulations preserved the rights of students with compelling excuses, as cases of justified absence are subject to a systemic flexibility that requires the excuse to be submitted and documented through the approved platforms (such as the Madrasati platform or the Noor system) within the specified period, to ensure that it is not counted within the percentage of deprivation, while continuing educational follow-up to compensate for the educational loss.
Integration with the child protection system
The ministry did not limit itself to punitive measures, but also linked absenteeism to child protection system . This connection represents a significant shift in addressing school dropout rates, as frequent absences—especially in the early grades—are now considered a warning sign that may indicate family neglect requiring intervention.
The regulations require schools to take a series of preventative and corrective measures, starting with student guidance to explore the underlying causes (psychological, health-related, and social), and culminating in referring the case to the relevant authorities if parental negligence in enabling the child to exercise their fundamental right to education is proven. This approach underscores that school discipline is a shared responsibility between home and school, and that protecting the student's future requires a firm and secure educational environment that ensures fairness and prevents absenteeism.
The importance of discipline and its future impact
These measures are important because of their direct impact on educational outcomes; global educational studies confirm a strong correlation between school attendance and academic achievement. Locally, this discipline helps reduce educational and financial waste. Looking ahead, instilling values of punctuality and attendance in young people prepares them early for the job market, thus providing the national economy with a responsible and professional workforce.
