The Ministry of Education turned down 3,000 first grade applications through its electronic portal “Noor” for the upcoming academic year for failing to meet requirements.

There were more than 205,000 first grade applications for 14,000 elementary schools across the Kingdom, of which 53 percent have been accepted since the Noor portal began operation 56 days ago.

“School principals have the right to reject applications if they don’t meet requirements,” he said. “Applicants should include a medical checkup and proof of residence, in addition to meeting age requirements.”

“But that does not mean that principals are not at an obligation to accept as many students as possible,” he said. “Principals will be downgraded to teachers if they are found to be in violation of rules and regulations.”

The ministry has emphasized the importance of registering their children through the Noor online portal, which was implemented two years ago.

The ministry opened electronic registration eight months ahead of the new academic year to deal with incomplete applications and to tackle the problem of availability.

Sources said that the ministry is doing its best to accept pupils who are registered through the online portal in proportion with availability at schools.