The Ministry of Education warns those who photograph exams and clarifies the 20% passing requirement
As part of its ongoing preparations to regulate the educational process and ensure the integrity of the assessment periods, the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued firm directives regarding the regulations for final exams, stressing the prevention of any practices that may compromise the principle of equal opportunities among students or affect the confidentiality of the questions.
A strongly worded warning to exam photographers
The Ministry of Education has warned that anyone caught photographing exam papers or questions inside exam halls will face legal and administrative consequences. This warning comes as part of the Ministry's efforts to combat electronic cheating and the leaking of exam questions, which are considered serious violations that threaten educational values. The Ministry emphasized that photographing and posting exam questions on social media is not merely a student infraction, but may fall under the category of cybercrimes that warrant deterrent penalties, in order to preserve the integrity of the educational institution and the credibility of the results.
The 20% requirement for passing coursework
In a related matter concerning academic standards, the Ministry reiterated the fundamental requirement for passing courses, known as the "conditional percentage." This requirement stipulates that a student must achieve at least 20% of the final written exam grade to pass any course. This means that high grades in coursework and midterms are not sufficient for passing if the student does not achieve the minimum required score on the final exam. This requirement aims to ensure that the student has a comprehensive understanding of the course material and does not rely solely on continuous assessments.
The context of school discipline and the importance of tests
These instructions come as part of a comprehensive system for developing education in the Kingdom, as the Ministry seeks to raise the quality of educational outcomes in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The examination period is considered a pivotal stage for measuring real learning outcomes, and therefore the concerned authorities are keen to provide a calm and disciplined environment free from distractions or violations.
Shared responsibility between school and family
The ministry urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of any behavior that violates regulations, such as carrying phones in exam halls or attempting to photocopy papers, and to encourage them to focus on their studies. Adherence to these regulations fosters values of integrity and responsibility among students and ensures that academic certificates accurately reflect a student's true level, thus contributing to building a generation that is aware and prepared for the future.
