Do you have a child prodigy at home, who studies in a public school and is excellent in academics? If so, there is every possibility that the child will complete his or her education much faster than what it would take in the normal course of time, with the Ministry of Education seriously considering limiting the years of study for gifted children.

Under the accelerated academic system, children with exceptional talent would be able to climb the educational ladder much faster based on the degree of their academic and creative abilities.

The ministry, however, has set certain conditions which have to be fulfilled for children to qualify for accelerated education. These include excellent skills in all subjects, scoring an average of 98 percent with at least 97 percent in each subject, getting through a talent test and finally a personal interview.

Noura Al-Fayez, deputy minister of Education for Girls’ Education, said the system of accelerated academics is an indicator of the educational development in the Kingdom, and also a milestone in educational policies.

Al-Fayez explained that the ministry was keen to facilitate quick academic progress of students with exceptional intelligence since it believes in creating a talent pool right from an early age. “Accelerated academics is one of the oldest educational practices all over the world, aimed basically to give special attention to talented children. The system takes into account various factors so as to help such students to reach psycho-social maturity, and this in turn enhances self-confidence among such students,” she said.

The deputy minister said the Ministry of Education adopted this system in 1433 AH, and formed a central committee in the ministry in coordination with other departments to implement it, and a procedural manual was prepared including working mechanisms and controls.

Suad Al-Braheem, general director of Talented Female Students, said the system is a program aimed at providing care and attention to gifted students. “It is a practical solution for talented students who may otherwise feel frustrated or face boredom in regular classes, besides causing other problems of peer pressure, she said.

Al-Braheem also reiterated that the system was based on the important principle that students who qualify for accelerated education have the required merit and early maturity.