Private tutors charge up to SR 300 a lesson

There was a considerable rise in the cost of private lessons for intermediate and higher-grade pupils just before the start of the midyear examinations, a local newspaper reported. 
Many parents said that teachers took advantage of the situation by charging up to SR 300 for one private lesson for their children.
Meanwhile, education departments throughout the Kingdom have completed their preparations for the exams.
There are 1,317,439 boys and 1,120,795 girls sitting for the exams at the intermediate and higher-grade levels, according to the Ministry of Education. 
"The ministry's preparations are no different from any other time of the academic year," said Mohammad Al-Dakhini, the ministry's spokesman. He said the exams are held at an "appropriate time" to prevent any extra stress and pressure on students and their families.
Al-Dakhini said that there are controls in place to regulate the way students leave the school after their tests. "The follow-up and control process is part of the tasks of the Ministry of Education, represented by the school management," he added.
He said all schools are responsible for overseeing their own administration and ensuring student attendance and discipline. 
He said that the health department of the ministry has distributed brochures on how students can deal with the stress and anxiety of exams. The ministry has also issued instructional brochures on proper study methods and time management.
Meanwhile, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has warned students about using stimulants and other drugs to stay awake during study. The organization stressed the fact such drugs affect perception and can cause complications and accidents.
Abdulrahman bin Sultan Al-Sultan, executive director of Communications and Outreach at the SFDA, warned of the risk of using Captagon tablets. He said the banned drug has many side effects, including causing rapid heartbeat and breathing, reducing appetite, increasing blood pressure and keeping a person awake.