Students at a Riyadh secondary school are seen taking their exams.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the semester system for secondary schools, beginning from the next academic year, Education Minister Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced Monday.

“The new system will be implemented in Class One of secondary schools in place of the annual evaluation system, with the continuation of the prescribed textbook system,” the minister said.

The royal approval came after the Education Ministry completed its preparations to adopt the new system in the last two years by preparing necessary documents, the academic plan and textbooks.

The ministry has also developed a new evaluation system, directories about the system for schools, teachers, students and parents. The secondary phase of education will be divided into six semesters with each year having two semesters. Each semester will have separate textbooks, examinations and results.

“We have also trained more than 600 principal trainers from all the regional education departments and we started training programs for educational supervisors, leaders and teachers,” the prince said.

The semester system will replace the existing one gradually, the minister said, adding that the old system is still being followed by 80 percent of schools across the country.
He said the introduction of the semester system in secondary schools would contribute to further improving education standards in the country. “We have already made a lot of efforts to improve education at primary and intermediate levels,” he pointed out.

Saudi educationists have welcomed the plan to introduce the semester system in secondary schools and said it would strengthen the country’s education and help meet job market requirements.

Abdelelah Saaty, dean of the College of Business in Rabigh, said the new system would prepare secondary school students for university education.

“King Abdullah has been exerting a lot of efforts to improve education in the Kingdom and develop the country’s human resources. His new decision has come in the right time and will have a big impact,” he told Arab News.

He said most developed countries have introduced semester systems in secondary schools, adding that it would help develop overall skills and capabilities of children. “It will also improve the quality of education,” he said while praising Prince Khaled’s efforts to strengthen the education system.