The ministry based its decision on recommendations by a special committee comprising representatives of various educational departments asked to evaluate the levels of questions and examinations in all private schools in the Kingdom.

The constitution of the committee was within a plan of the ministry aimed at improving examinations in private schools and upgrading the level of graduates.

According to official sources from the ministry, any school found to be substandard will have its licenses canceled immediately. They said if the performance of the students was found to be below the required level, the school will be finally shut down.

The sources said the ministry would implement the decision from the beginning of the next academic year.

According to the results of the evaluation, private schools were classified into four main categories based on performance.

The local department of education will set the questions and mark papers for schools prevented from setting exam questions.

Mishaal Al-Harithy from the inspection department at the department of education in Jeddah said schools classified in the top band will be inspected once every two years, while those below that will be evaluated every year.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam has ordered the formation of a special task force to study the classification of private schools in the region and their fees.

A report prepared by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry said private schools in the capital represented about a third of all schools. Their teachers account for about a quarter of the total in the city.

Their students account for about 40 percent of all students in the Kingdom.

The report said a large number of these private schools have operating for between 10 and 25 years.