New exam regulations: Teachers banned from relative committees to promote integrity
In a move aimed at enhancing transparency and improving the efficiency of the education system, the Ministry of Education has approved a new and detailed administrative and organizational structure for managing final exams in schools. This step comes as part of the Ministry's ongoing efforts to govern educational processes and ensure the application of the highest standards of integrity and operational efficiency through a precise distribution of tasks that prevents conflicts of interest and eliminates any potential duplication of roles within educational institutions.
The context of governance and the importance of decision-making
These measures are of paramount importance given the rapid developments in the Kingdom's education sector, as the Ministry strives to standardize procedures and ensure the quality of educational outcomes. Separating personal relationships from assessment processes is a cornerstone of advanced global education systems, guaranteeing equal opportunities for all students and protecting teachers and administrators from any suspicion that could compromise the credibility of results. These controls are part of a broader reform package aimed at creating a more disciplined and equitable school environment.
New administrative structure: Academic Achievement Committee
In its new organizational guide, the Ministry adopted a hierarchical administrative model beginning with the "Academic Achievement Committee," the highest supervisory body, directly headed by the school principal. This committee bears full responsibility for ensuring the examination process is conducted in accordance with approved regulations and procedures. Four specialized executive arms stem from this central committee, managing all logistical, technical, and procedural aspects of the examinations with meticulous precision.
Distribution of tasks and executive committees
The new guidelines clearly define the tasks to ensure no overlap, assigning the responsibilities of the "Control and Control Committee" to the Deputy Director of School Affairs, who will oversee all pre- and post-test logistical operations. This committee's responsibilities include preparing the examination halls, assigning seating numbers, ensuring the walls are free of any educational materials that could be used for cheating, and receiving and securely storing the answer sheets.
During the exam, the "Supervision and Observation Committee," headed by the Dean of Student Affairs, plays a crucial role in managing the examination process and maintaining order within the halls. This committee is responsible for preparing the invigilators' schedules, overseeing the opening of the exam envelopes, monitoring student entry and exit, and accurately recording absences and documenting any official violations.
Post-test phase and results
The crucial stage begins after the allotted time for answering has ended, when the "Correction, Review, and Verification Committee," headed by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs, assumes its responsibilities. This committee oversees the delivery of answer sheets to the examiners, along with the approved answer keys, and monitors the accuracy of the marking and review process to ensure that every student receives their full due without any errors in assessment.
The process concludes with the “Monitoring and Results Release Committee,” which is also headed by the Undersecretary for Educational Affairs. This committee is responsible for entering grades into the electronic systems, extracting preliminary results, printing and storing the final approved “whitewashed” copies, and conducting a final audit of student data to ensure that it matches the official documents.
Preventing conflicts of interest: Banning kinship committees
To ensure maximum transparency and fairness, the ministry has implemented a stringent regulation, the most prominent in this system, which categorically prohibits conflicts of interest. The new guidelines require school administrations to reassign any committee member to a role completely unrelated to the class or grade level in which their first-degree relative is enrolled. This measure aims to eliminate favoritism entirely and enhance public and parental confidence in the credibility of the final exam results.
