Islamic studies, Arabic exams a must

Juma Al Salami, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Private Education, said that while no school would be exempted from this rule, the ministry would look into individual student cases and decide on whether an exception could be made.

In a circular sent to all educational zones in the country, Al Salami called on schools to strictly adhere to the orders, and assign inspectors and other staff required to implement the instructions.

In foreign private schools, a unified exam will be held at the end of the second semester this academic year, both for Arab and non-Arab students. Students of classes X, XI and XII from these schools will appear for the exams in Islamic studies and Arabic.

According to the circular, students of classes X and XI will sit for the exam along with the syllabus for the second semester, while students of class XII will sit for the exam with the entire syllabus. The maximum and minimum marks in the two subjects for students from foreign schools will be 100 and 50 respectively, while in the case of Arab students studying in foreign schools, it will be 200 and 100 (Classes X and XI).

The duration of exam for non-Arab students appearing for Islamic studies and Arabic will be two hours, while Arab students who study in foreign schools will have two hours each for the two subjects.

The circular effectively shuts the doors on a large number of private schools, which had requested the ministry to exempt them from holding the unified exams in the two subjects this academic year.