Students returning to schools in Saudi Arabia 1447: Everything you need to know
Tomorrow, Sunday, marks a pivotal event in the Saudi educational landscape, as students across the Kingdom return to school. More than six million students will resume their studies for the third and final term of the current academic year 1447 AH, following the Eid al-Fitr holiday. This return comes amidst a comprehensive system of preparations announced by the Ministry of Education to ensure a strong and organized start to the academic year, aimed at enhancing the quality of education and improving learning outcomes at all educational levels.
Resuming the educational journey towards achieving Vision 2030
This return to school is not merely a continuation of the academic year, but a further step in the Kingdom's ongoing national transformation. The education sector is a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to cultivate a globally competitive and educated generation capable of leading a thriving, knowledge-based economy. Accordingly, the Ministry of Education is working to develop curricula, integrate modern technologies into classrooms, and train educational staff to create a stimulating learning environment that fosters creativity and innovation and cultivates students' critical thinking skills. This is directly reflected in the preparations made to welcome students each semester.
Comprehensive arrangements to ensure a smooth return of students to schools
The Ministry of Education has completed all operational and technical preparations to welcome students and teachers to approximately 32,000 schools across the Kingdom's various regions and governorates. These efforts included preparing school buildings and classrooms, ensuring the readiness of all facilities, and implementing health standards to guarantee a safe and healthy school environment. More than 500,000 teachers are returning to their field duties, supported by intensive supervisory visits from ministry teams to monitor school discipline and enhance the educational process from the very first day of classes. Preparations also include ensuring the functionality of smart classrooms and halls equipped with the latest educational technologies to provide a stimulating environment for creativity.
Varying schedules and meticulous organization of the first school day
To ensure smooth traffic flow and facilitate students' arrival at school, education departments in various regions have announced staggered start times for the school day. In Riyadh, the morning assembly begins at 6:15 a.m., with the first class starting at 6:30 a.m. In Jeddah and the Eastern Province, the assembly is scheduled for 6:45 a.m., and the first class begins at 7:00 a.m. Different start times have also been allocated for evening schools and continuing education programs. For girls, classes begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Eastern Province and 3:30 p.m. in Jeddah, while for boys, classes begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Eastern Province and 6:45 p.m. in Jeddah. These staggered start times aim to reduce congestion and ensure everyone's safety.
The Ministry of Education is working closely with security and service agencies to manage traffic around schools and facilitate student access. In this context, the Ministry called on parents to strengthen their partnership with schools by monitoring their children and encouraging them to adhere to the new schedules, thus contributing to the successful and distinguished completion of their educational journey and the achievement of desired goals.
