Ministry of Education: Preventing the withholding of student results and adopting digital certificates
With the conclusion of the first semester exams on Thursday, the Ministry of Education took decisive steps to regulate the educational process and guarantee students' rights. It resolved the long-standing controversy surrounding private school fees, directing that results not be withheld due to parents' financial difficulties. This decision coincides with the affirmation of students' right to review their exam papers and the adoption of a complete digital transformation of educational documents.
A victory for the right to education and a resolution of financial disputes
In a move aimed at protecting the educational process from commercial disputes, the new regulations, as outlined in the fourth edition of the "Examinations Guide," unequivocally stipulate that receiving results and certificates is an inherent educational right of the student that cannot be forfeited or postponed. With this decision, the Ministry has separated academic achievement from financial claims in private and international schools, emphasizing that the collection of dues must be carried out through the appropriate legal and judicial channels, without jeopardizing the student's future or psychological well-being. This represents a significant step forward in safeguarding the rights of learners.
Grievance mechanism: transparency and speed of completion
To enhance transparency and empower parents, the new guide guarantees them the right to formal appeals and a thorough review of answer sheets. The ministry has mandated the following for school principals:
- We will accept review requests immediately after the results are announced and for a period of five working days.
- An immediate committee will be formed to review the answer sheet and decide on the request.
- The parent will be given the final result of the objection within 24 hours (one working day only).
This new mechanism puts an end to the long waiting periods that caused anxiety for families, and ensures the achievement of effective justice in the educational field.
Digital transformation and keeping pace with Vision 2030
In line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 goals of automating government services, the Ministry announced the end of the era of paper stamps and traditional manual authentications. The "digital document" has been adopted through the "Noor" system as an official and documented alternative. These certificates feature a QR code that allows universities, government agencies, and private entities to instantly verify the certificate's authenticity and reliability, saving time and effort and eliminating the need for beneficiaries to visit schools to have copies stamped.
Accuracy of monitoring and final review
Regarding the technical procedures within the monitoring committees, which began their work immediately after the students left the examination halls, the mandatory "final review" mechanism was activated. This mechanism mandates the exclusive use of a "green pen" to review the papers of students who failed or are eligible for leniency, ensuring that every recorded grade has undergone rigorous verification to prevent human error. The Ministry emphasized to all schools the necessity of recording and publishing grades electronically as soon as the verification process is complete, allowing students and parents to access the results and determine their academic path without delay.
