JEDDAH – Expatriate students whose iqamas (residency permits) have expired cannot be barred by school authorities from sitting in examinations and their certificates cannot be blocked on this ground. A warning to this effect was issued to all school authorities by the Ministry of Education. The ministry issued this directive in the wake of increasing number of complaints from expatriate parents that their children have been barred from continuing education in the middle of the academic year. The ministry said that the school authorities should inform parents in writing that iqamas should be renewed to continue their children's education. Schools should accept students whose iqamas are under the process of renewal with a letter to this effect from the company or establishment where their guardians are working or from a court or other judicial or security agencies. It shall be mentioned in the letter that the delay in the renewal of iqama is purely out of the control of the iqama holder due to factors such as a dispute between the employer and the employee or sponsorship transfer procedures or similar issues. If such a letter is not submitted, the school director shall refer the matter to the examination section under the Department of Education to take an appropriate decision, the ministry said.
