JEDDAH: Preparations are in place for over three million female and male students at more than 20,000 intermediate and secondary schools to start their end-of-year examinations today. The examinations will last a fortnight. In a circular, the Ministry of Education instructed its regions not to allow students who have studied the Saudi syllabus at primary, intermediate and secondary level, to write the examinations held by some foreign embassies, especially Arab embassies. The ministry made clear that it will not recognize the results of any female and male students who sit for this kind of examination and will prevent their future re-enrollment at all government schools. The ministry also wants its directors to ensure that students write their final examinations in ease and comfort. It also wants female and male supervisors and inspectors to tour all schools and deal with any shortcoming they may encounter to ensure the examinations run smoothly. Abdullah Al-Thaqfi, Director General of Education in Jeddah, said 260,000 female and male intermediate and secondary students will sit for the final examinations.
