Saudi Gazette report TAIF — The Ministry of Education has approved new controls to curb absenteeism among students in government schools. They include students being barred from entering semester examinations in case they are absent for 45 days, whether consecutively or intermittently, Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported on Thursday. A source in the Ministry of Education said the ministry would mark students on attendance at the rate of 50 marks a semester. This will be registered in a special column in the student's mark sheet. These will be added to the student's total marks at the end of the academic year. The student will be given the full 100 marks if he or she has not remained absent or arrived late at school without giving a reason during the academic year. Half a mark is deducted for every day a student remains absent without an acceptable reason during the semester. Also, one mark is deducted from a student who remains absent during the week prior to a vacation or the first week after returning from the vacation. One mark is deducted from a student who remains absent from school without an acceptable reason during the week prior to examinations. Every time a student is late for morning exercises, a quarter mark is deducted. The attendance rules will be implemented in all classes for general education except at primary stage. Marks will be deducted in case the student remains absent or is late. Meanwhile, Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, minister of education, issued directives that vacations for female kindergarten teachers, male and female primary school teachers and administration staff will begin at the end of school on June 5 instead of June 26. Muhammad Bin Saad Al-Dukhaini, official spokesman for the Ministry of Education, said this is an exceptional measure for this year only.
