For three days in a row electricity was cut off in several districts of the holy city. Students were unable to revise due to poor lighting and the heat.

Students and their parents are holding the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) responsible for the chaos.

University student Ammar Ali said SEC officials should have known that exams were taking place and found alternative solutions to ensure a steady flow of electricity. He said because of soaring temperatures and darkness he was unable to revise properly, failing two subjects.

“This will adversely affect my cumulative average. I will not be able to raise my grades no matter how hard I try in the remaining exams. So I may drop the next semester,” he said.

Midhat Ahmad, a student in his final secondary school year who lives in Al-Awali district, said since last Sunday he was unable to study because there was no electricity in his home.

“The power went off at about 1:30 a.m. and came back for half an hour only after Fajr (early morning) prayer,” he said.

“At 2:30 p.m. the electricity was cut again for three hours. I could not revise. I was hoping to obtain good grades to enable me to study medicine but my dream is shattered thanks to the SEC.”

Ali Al-Sayed, a second year secondary school student who lives in Al-Naseem district, said he did well in the first day of the examinations, which happened last Saturday, but things started going downhill from there.

He said he thought a technical fault had caused the power to be cut off on the first day, which would soon be rectified.

“I was mistaken. The cuts continued. I could not study hard as I had been planning,” he said.

Al-Sayed, who was desperate for a steady power flow, said he took his books and went to study in the Grand Mosque, which is always well lit and cool. “I will continue to study at the Grand Mosque as I do not know when this disruption will come to an end,” he said.

Abu Turad said he has two sons, one studying at a secondary school and the other at an intermediate one.

“I had to take the two of them to my brother’s house in Jeddah to revise and bring them back to Makkah at night,” he said

Abu Turad said he was tired of the frequent journeys but claimed he had no other choice. “My sons have to study. When they are back home from school in Makkah in the afternoon, I take them to Jeddah. I am exhausted thanks to the SEC,” he said.