JEDDAH: The Ministry of Education has put in place 12 new controls to eradicate the phenomena of student absenteeism during periods that precede and follow exams, formal holidays and vacations.
The new controls include adding the school attendance grade to the total academic achievement scores at the end of the school year, in addition to imposing punitive measures on any school principal who tolerates student absenteeism. The punitive measure might amount to sacking the principal.
The ministry defined the mechanism that will impact academic scores according to attendance as follows:
One point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse, per every school day of absence during the first week that comes before the vacation, and one week after returning from vacation.
One point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse per every school day of absence during the week that comes before exams.
A quarter of a point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse per every absent school day during the school semester.
A quarter of a point will be deducted from the total achievement scores per every school day of any student for being late on the morning exercises without valid excuse.
The department of school registry will record on a daily basis, and will document in records or through an electronic program any absence or delay.
Parents must be immediately informed of any tardiness or absence.
Students will receive a warning in writing if absence during the school year amounts to 10 percent without a reasonable excuse and parents will be informed in writing to come to school to address the issue.
The same procedures will be followed in cases where the absence rate increased, in addition to further disciplinary measures by the guidance and directions committees of schools and education departments.
Sources told local media that education officials will go on inspection rounds of government and private schools to make sure that schools are monitoring absenteeism and registering the names of absentees and latecomers.
If the indulgence of school administrations is proven, disciplinary actions will be taken against them, including the school principals.
The new controls include adding the school attendance grade to the total academic achievement scores at the end of the school year, in addition to imposing punitive measures on any school principal who tolerates student absenteeism. The punitive measure might amount to sacking the principal.
The ministry defined the mechanism that will impact academic scores according to attendance as follows:
One point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse, per every school day of absence during the first week that comes before the vacation, and one week after returning from vacation.
One point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse per every school day of absence during the week that comes before exams.
A quarter of a point will be deducted from the total achievement scores of any student absent from school without a valid excuse per every absent school day during the school semester.
A quarter of a point will be deducted from the total achievement scores per every school day of any student for being late on the morning exercises without valid excuse.
The department of school registry will record on a daily basis, and will document in records or through an electronic program any absence or delay.
Parents must be immediately informed of any tardiness or absence.
Students will receive a warning in writing if absence during the school year amounts to 10 percent without a reasonable excuse and parents will be informed in writing to come to school to address the issue.
The same procedures will be followed in cases where the absence rate increased, in addition to further disciplinary measures by the guidance and directions committees of schools and education departments.
Sources told local media that education officials will go on inspection rounds of government and private schools to make sure that schools are monitoring absenteeism and registering the names of absentees and latecomers.
If the indulgence of school administrations is proven, disciplinary actions will be taken against them, including the school principals.
