
New school year in 11 Saudi regions will commence on August 24
Teachers at all levels are scheduled to return on Sunday, August 17 in these regions. However, educational supervisors and administrative staff members in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif, will return to schools on Sunday, August 17, and teachers on August 24. Classes in schools in these regions will commence on August 31.
The Ministry of Education has set the weekly class periods for public schools during the new academic year. The curriculum guide indicates that the number of classes in all elementary school grades will be 33 per week, with 8 subjects for the early grades (first, second, and third), in addition to student activities, and 10 subjects for the upper grades (fourth, fifth, and sixth), in addition to student activities.
In the intermediate level, the number of weekly classes for the three grades will be 35, with 10 subjects in the first and second grades, in addition to student activities. In the third grade, there will be 11 subjects in addition to student activities. For the secondary phase, under the general track system, the number of classes for all three grades will be 32. The number of subjects in the first secondary grade for the first semester will be 8, while in the second and third grades the number of subjects will be 7 and 10 respectively. In the second semester of the academic year, the number of subjects will be 11 in the first grade, 9 in the second grade, and 12 in the third grade.
© Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
14 hours ago
- The National
Joy as UAE pupils achieve record-setting A-level results
Pupils across the UAE were celebrating their A-level results on Thursday, as the number of top grades awarded in the UK hit their highest level outside of the Covid-19 pandemic. Leading school provider Gems Education had a record 1,999 pupils sitting 5,379 A-levels across 22 schools in the UAE and Qatar. This year, 32 per cent of entries were awarded A* - A, up from 26 per cent last year. The proportion of top A* grades also increased to 11 per cent. Lisa Crosby, chief education officer for the group, said the results were "just the beginning." Standout performances included Gems Wellington Academy - Silicon Oasis, which posted an 18-point rise in A*-A grades, and Gems Founders School - Al Mishear, where A*-B results jumped by 27 points. More than a quarter (28.3 per cent) of UK pupils were awarded an A or A* grade, up by 0.5 percentage points on last year. Resilience beyond grades This time last year, Pranaw Lalwani was ready to throw in the towel. He told The National that anxiety over grades had affected his performance. "I got to a point at the end of year 12, I just wanted to walk out," he said. After sitting down with his parents and teachers at Jumeirah College Dubai, he decided to persevere and brought his grades up to gain a place at the University of Madrid. Beyond the grades, he said he had learnt a critical lesson in resilience. The National joined Pranaw and his classmates at the GEMs school, emotion filled the main reception as students collected white envelopes with their grades ready to be opened at the stroke of 11am. The parents of Rayyaan Rabbari were elated at his results which have secured him a place studying engineering at University College London. "I haven't seen him in month," Rabbi, Rayyaan's mother told The National. Food is delivered to his door as he was so focused on the exams. Beyond grades Brighton College Dubai also celebrated its strongest results yet, with A* grades surging to 28 per cent – almost double last year's 15 per cent. More than half of all grades were at A*-A and 80 per cent at A*-B. Several pupils, including Arvand Zare, Shaurya Kumar and Vibha Kumar achieved the coveted three A* grades. Vibha told The National that while she was "still in shock", at the outstanding results, on reflection it was the school environment that made the biggest difference, with the smaller class sizes at Brighton College allowing for more one-on-one time with teaching staff. "Previously I was in a pretty big school where the year group size was about 300-400 people," she said. "My classes at Brighton ranged from about five to 13 people." Simon Crane, headmaster at Brighton College, hailed the achievement as "among the best in the UAE", crediting the school's culture of striving for excellence. Hannah Aly, a pupil at Brighton College Abu Dhabi, received a much-coveted score of four A* grades. She said the key to success comes from planning to study early, as "that way it'll be less stressful once exams actually come around." Graduates will now head to elite destinations including University College London, Edinburgh, Toronto and Paris's renowned Gobelins animation school. Eloi Roberts, an A-level student at Brighton College Al Ain, has his heart on a career in Architecture. But for now he has a big decision to make - weighing a placing in the UK, or at home in the emirates at UAE University as the built environment industry is moving at a rapid pace. Elsewhere, at Repton Abu Dhabi, 43 per cent of all A-Level entries were awarded A* to A grades and 72 per cent of all entries at A* to B. At sister school, Repton Dubai 31 per cent of entries received A*to A grades, and 62 per cent of grades awarded A* to B. Dubai British School Emirates Hills also posted its best A-level results, with the school's principal highlighting the "determination, resilience and commitment" of pupils.


Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Schools across UAE celebrate record-breaking A Level & BTEC results
Schools and students across the UAE began receiving their A-level results today, with this year's cohort achieving strong performances. In Dubai College, 77 per cent of students made expected or better-than-expected progress across all subjects. The school's A-Level results for 2025 include a 74 per cent A-A rate, matching last year's high, and a record 93.6 per cent of grades at A-B. Notably, 25 students earned three or more A* grades, with 15 of them achieving four A*s. Ateka Tarajia, Head of Sixth Form said, 'Dubai College is proud to announce an outstanding set of A Level results, as a staggering 74% of all examinations were awarded an A* or A, reflecting the exceptional hard work and talent of our students. Students have secured places on highly sought after courses, such as in Medicine, and many have confirmed places at Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. Taleem In Dubai British School Jumeirah Park (DBSJP), 25 per cent of entries have been awarded A* or Distinction*, 50 per cent achieving grade A or above, and 85 per cent at grade B or higher. With a 96 per cent pass rate, this year also saw a number of graduates across the UAE securing places at prestigious Russell Group universities and top international institutions. DBSJP Principal Rebecca Coulter said, 'These outstanding results reflect the talent, dedication, and resilience of our students, the expertise of our teachers, and the strength of our school community. We are equally proud of every individual journey, whether academic or vocational, and we look forward to watching our graduates thrive on the global stage.' Some high-achievers at DBSJP recalled their experience. Maxwell said, ' Today I got the highest grades I could have achieved on my course. I could not be happier seeing the last few years of hard work pay off. I am going to miss DBSJP so much and all the teachers who have helped me along the way.' Amelia noted, ' Two years ago I started A Levels, feeling nervous and unsure, but today all my hard effort and patience have paid off – achieving higher grades than predicted.' Alisha added, ' My time at DBSJP has provided many opportunities for growth. I am incredibly happy to see all of my hard work paying off, and can't wait to see what the next step in my journey is.' Jebel Ali School In Jebel Ali School, 55 students sat for 162 A-Level exams and 5 BTEC qualifications. School Headboy, Kye Raikundalia earned A* Maths, A Further Maths, A Economics, A EPQ, B Computer Science He said, 'I am thrilled at the prospect of studying Economics at King's College London, with the ambition of pursuing a career in Sales and Trading within Investment Banking. JAS has provided me with an excellent foundation, enabling me to work towards my goals.' Raikundalia added, 'The support of my teachers has helped me strengthen my skills and consistently strive for the best. I believe they have placed me in a strong position to succeed in the next chapter of my life.' Jebel Ali School Principal, Simon Jodrell said, 'Our Year 13 students have achieved the best Post-16 results in the school's history. With 62 per cent of all entries achieving the top grades of A* - B and 32 per cent of all grades awarded at A*- A (or equivalent). This year's outcomes reflect the exceptional hard work, dedication, and resilience of our Sixth Form students.' Repton Schools Repton AbuDhabi's 43 per cent of all A-Level entries secured A*–A grades and 72 per cent of all entries at A*-B. Repton Dubai also recorded a strong performance, with 31 per cent of entries receiving A*–A grades, and 62 per cent of grades awarded A*–B. Repton Abu Dhabi students have secured offers from prestigious universities around the world, including the University of St Andrews, New York University, the University of Western Australia, the University of New South Wales and University College Cork. Among the school's high achievers is Wahyu Wijaksono, who achieved an outstanding three A* grades and one A. Another standout student, Sandra Li, will be heading to New York University in the USA after achieving one A*, two A grades, and one B. Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, Steven Lupton, said, 'We are immensely proud of our students for their exceptional achievements this year. Their results are a testament to their determination, resilience, and passion for learning, supported by the dedication of our teachers and the encouragement of their families. We are confident they will thrive at university and beyond, shaping their futures and making a positive impact on the world around them.' Repton Dubai also celebrated impressive university placements, with students securing offers from prestigious institutions including Imperial College London, UCL, LSE and Queen Mary University of London. High achievers this year include Zain Junadi, who achieved three A* grades and two As and will be joining UCL and Yilan Shi, who earned two A* grades and two As and will reading Computer Science at Imperial College London. Michael Bloy, Principal of Repton Dubai, said, 'This cohort has shown exceptional resilience and commitment to their goals throughout their academic journey. We are thrilled to see them succeed and take their next steps towards fulfilling and ambitious futures.' At Horizon International School in Dubai this year, A-level students achieved an average of +1 grade above their expected outcomes across all subjects. In English Literature, the average Value-Added was +1.12 grades, in Biology the Value-Added was +0.8 of a grade and in Chemistry, the Value-Added was +0.75 of a grade. In addition, the Value-Added in Geography and Business was +2 grades and in Media, the Value-Added was +1 grade. 54 per cent of HIS students achieved grades A* to B, in addition to 50 per cent of long tenure students achieving A*-B grades across 2+ subjects. Horizon International School, Principal, Stephen Quinn, said, "We are very proud of the remarkable progress our A-level students have made, consistently outperforming expectations and growing into confident, independent learners. As they venture into the next phase of their academic and professional paths, we are confident that they will carry forward the spirit of Horizon – continuing to excel and make meaningful contributions to their chosen fields.' Other schools in Abu Dhabi Meanwhile, Brighton College Abu Dhabi is also celebrating its pupils' Summer 2025 A-Level results, with A being the most commonly awarded grade, a value-add of almost two-thirds of a grade, and one quarter of pupils receiving A* or A grades in all of their subjects. The College achieved 17 per cent of grades at A*, 44 per cent at A*–A grades, and 68 per cent at A*–B. Standout subject performance included 100 per cent A* grades in Computer Science and Art, 100 per cent of grades in Geography, and 75 per cent A*–B in English Literature, Design Technology, Biology and Physics. The Class of 2025 holds 149 offers from Russell Group Universities, with seven pupils receiving all five of their offers from these prestigious institutions. Pupils here also set to join leading universities including Imperial College London, University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), King's College London and the University of Manchester, as well as top US and other global destinations, with several earning scholarships. 21 pupils achieved a clean sweep of A* and A grades. In Dubai College, 77 per cent of students made expected or better-than-expected progress across all subjects. The school's A-Level results for 2025 include a 74 per cent A-A rate, matching last year's high, and a record 93.6 per cent of grades at A-B. Notably, 25 students earned three or more A* grades, with 15 of them achieving four A*s. Ateka Tarajia, Head of Sixth Form said, 'Dubai College is proud to announce an outstanding set of A Level results, as a staggering 74% of all examinations were awarded an A* or A, reflecting the exceptional hard work and talent of our students. Students have secured places on highly sought after courses, such as in Medicine, and many have confirmed places at Oxbridge and Ivy League schools. GEMS Education At GEMS education 1,999 students sat 5,379 A-level exams across its 22 schools in the UAE and Qatar. The results show sustained strong performance, with 32 per cent of grades at A*-A and 58 per cent at A*-B. The GEMS-wide results also reflect significant year-on-year grade improvements, with the number of A* grades awarded rising by two percentage points to 11 per cent, A*-A performance improving from 26 per cent in 2024 to 32% this year, as well as A*-B performance rising six percentage points to 58 per cent. Additional highlights include GEMS Cambridge International Private School – Sharjah, whose A-level students achieved a nine percentage point growth in A* grades awarded, as well as GEMS Wesgreen International School – Sharjah, where the number of students achieving an A*-A grade rose by 16 percentage points year-on-year. Across the GEMS network a total of 412 students took BTEC Level 3s — double the cohort of last year, demonstrating the increasing popularity of this vocational pathway.


Gulf Business
2 days ago
- Gulf Business
Back to school: Saudi reveals new academic year start date for 11 regions
Image credit: Getty Images The new school year in 11 regions of Saudi Arabia is scheduled to begin on August 24, according to the Ministry of Education. On Tuesday, August 12, the educational supervisors and administrative staff returned to schools across the country, excluding Makkah and Madinah, to begin early preparations for the academic year. Read- Teachers in these 11 regions are due to return on Sunday, August 17, giving them a full week to get classrooms and lessons ready. However, in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif, both educational supervisors and administrative staff are set to report on August 17, while teachers will return a week later, on August 24. Schools in these four regions will officially begin classes on August 31, The staggered return schedule aims to ensure that faculty and staff have enough time to prepare, especially in areas with high student density like Jeddah and Makkah. Ministry releases weekly class structure The Ministry of Education has outlined a detailed schedule of weekly class periods for students across all grade levels in public schools. The framework, part of the updated curriculum guide, is designed to optimize learning while balancing academic rigor with student well-being. For elementary students, the structure is as follows: Grades 1 to 3: 33 weekly classes, covering 8 subjects, along with student activities. Grades 4 to 6: 33 weekly classes, with 10 subjects, plus student activities. At the intermediate level, each of the three grades will have 35 weekly class periods. Students in grades 7 and 8 will take 10 subjects, in addition to scheduled student activities. In grade 9, the number of subjects increases to 11, again with time set aside for non-academic development. In secondary schools, which follow the general track system, the weekly class count will be 32 periods for all three grades. The number of subjects varies by grade and semester: First grade (Semester 1): 8 subjects First grade (Semester 2): 11 subjects Second grade (Semester 1): 7 subjects Second grade (Semester 2): 9 subjects Third grade (Semester 1): 10 subjects Third grade (Semester 2): 12 subjects This structure underscores the Ministry's continued focus on building a balanced and enriching academic environment. AI curriculum to launch in 2025–2026 school year In a landmark step toward digital transformation in education, the National Curriculum Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), has announced the launch of a new AI curriculum across all levels of public education. The rollout will begin with the 2025–2026 academic year, as reported by This initiative supports the goals of the Human Capability Development Program, a key part of Saudi Vision 2030, by building a generation equipped with vital digital and analytical skills. It also aims to position the Kingdom as a global leader in AI and emerging technologies. Hands-on AI learning for all grades The new curriculum will feature dedicated AI units that are interactive, practical, and designed to develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. These AI modules will be introduced progressively across all education levels, giving students early exposure to the technologies shaping the future. This move follows the recent success of the 'Introduction to Artificial Intelligence' course, launched for third-year high school students. Developed jointly by SDAIA, the National Curriculum Center, and the Ministry of Education, the course laid the groundwork for broader AI integration. Officials say the expansion of AI education marks a major milestone in preparing Saudi youth not just to adapt to AI, but to actively shape its future.