Saudi Arabia initiates gradual return of schools to operation

In a significant move aimed at easing traffic congestion during the Hajj season, the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia has introduced a new policy to support staff with young children. This policy allows them up to four hours off each day during the first three days of school.

The revised academic calendar, designed to avoid traffic bottlenecks, will see students in 12 regional education departments return to classrooms on Sunday, marking the start of the academic year. The remaining four departments, including Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif, will return a week later.

The policy applies to staff with children in kindergarten or early grades, but not to those without such responsibilities. Staff must secure supervisor approval and confirm their child's registration through the ministry's "Hudoori" system to avail this policy.

Daily attendance is to be recorded through the electronic "Noor" system, and staff must clock in by 11 a.m. at the latest. However, the policy does not specify the duration of the off-time beyond the first three days of school or the consequences for staff who fail to adhere to the attendance requirements.

The Ministry of Education has completed preparations for the staggered reopening of schools. Upon resumption, schools have been instructed to begin lessons immediately following the return of students. Class timetables are to be adhered to upon the resumption of classes.

In a notable change, the two-semester academic year for public schools will be reinstated starting in 2025-26, replacing the three-term model introduced under Vision 2030 reforms. However, private, international, and higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia will retain flexibility to adopt the academic structure that suits them best.

It's worth noting that the search results do not contain any information about the name of the Minister of Education who announced the revision of the school calendar to avoid traffic jams during the Hajj period.

This policy is part of a larger effort to ensure a smooth return to schools for students and staff, while also addressing the unique challenges posed by the Hajj season. The "Noor" system will alert parents of any absences, ensuring that everyone is aware of the attendance status of their children.

This approach is expected to help manage traffic flow in the regions where students are returning, reducing congestion and facilitating the departure of pilgrims during the Hajj season. The new schedule has been set for the first of Rabi Al Awwal for the 12 regional departments and the eighth of Rabi Al Awwal for the four departments.

As always, the focus remains on providing quality education in a safe and conducive environment for students and staff in Saudi Arabia. This new policy is just one of the many initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Education to achieve this goal.