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.
