New rules for transfer of students

Minister of Education Azzam Al-Dakhil has issued new directives for schools to follow when accepting pupils from outside the Kingdom, including having them write examinations to gain admittance. Abdulkarim Al-Jarbou’, director general of examinations and admissions at the ministry, said the results of these students must be certified by the education body and the Saudi Embassy in the country they studied. Students must have completed a minimum of 10 school weeks of study if they studied in countries where the academic year was at a different time, the minister said in a circular, according to a local report on Friday. Students who do not meet these criteria would not be accepted at schools in the Kingdom, the minister stated in a circular. Further details of acceptance procedures would be sent out later this year, he stated. Al-Dakhil also announced plans for the coming school year at a ceremony to honor trainees with Down Syndrome, which was organized by Tatweer Company for Education Services. This was held to coincide with Down Syndrome International Week. The event was part of the King Abdullah Project for Developing Public Education in Riyadh. Mohammad Al-Zughaibi, executive director of the project and executive director of Tatweer, thanked the minister for his efforts to improve special education at schools in the Kingdom. The project includes integrating children with disabilities in classes with those who are able-bodied, and providing them with various support services and rehabilitation programs. Alyaa Al-Bazi’, supervisor of the project to develop private education, said the initiative included training for children with disabilities, and helping adults to perform better at their workplaces. -arabnews