Minister of Education Approves Regulations for Awarding Excellence Bonuses to Staff in Schools and Kindergartens
The Minister of Education, Sayyid Jalal Al-Tabatabai, issued a decision regarding the regulations for granting financial awards for outstanding services to employees in institutes, schools, and kindergartens for the academic year (2025-2026), in accordance with organized regulations and criteria that ensure the award is granted to those who meet the prescribed conditions.
The Ministry of Education clarified that the decision specified the regulations for granting financial awards for outstanding services to employees in institutes, schools, and kindergartens, whether they are members of the teaching or administrative staff, and those covered by Civil Service Council Decision No. (5) of 1980 concerning the annual leave for the academic year (2025/2026).
The Ministry explained that the eligibility criteria for the award included having been employed for a period of two years within the Ministry or with any other government entity, in the case of an employee transferred to the Ministry or seconded outside it, for those appointed on September 18, 2024, or earlier. Additionally, the employee must have received a "Excellent" performance evaluation for the eligibility year (2025/2026), and no disciplinary penalties applicable during the eligibility year should be in effect against them, unless such penalties have been annulled in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Law and Regulations or overturned by a final court judgment.
The Ministry added that the decision also stipulated that the actual working days of the employee during the eligibility year must not be less than the percentage specified in Civil Service Council Decision No. (43) of 2016, which is 70%. This equates to 128 days for employees in the kindergarten stage, 131 days for employees in the primary and intermediate stages, 141 days for employees in the secondary stage, and 144 days for educational advisors.
The Ministry pointed out that the decision stipulated the exclusion of periods of absence from work, suspension from work, secondment, full-time dedication of all types and titles, missions, and leaves of all types and durations, in addition to official holidays, Fridays, and rest days, from the calculation of actual working days, except for sick leave during hospitalization periods within the eligibility year.
The Ministry also confirmed that the decision included a number of other regulations, including treating those who are reappointed or contracted as new employees when calculating the required two-year period for eligibility. Furthermore, the eligibility of those referred to legal affairs regarding the award would be decided immediately upon the completion of the investigation and the emergence of its results. The General Administration of Financial Affairs would hold the award amounts in trust accounts for a period of two months for appeals, and for six months for those referred for investigation.
The Ministry clarified that the decision granted non-eligible employees the right to appeal within 60 days from the date of disbursement, by submitting an appeal request through the Ministry of Education’s website. It emphasized that no appeal requests would be accepted except electronically through the Ministry’s official website and within the specified appeal period.
The Ministry stated that the decision stipulated that this award cannot be combined with any other financial award for outstanding services issued under other regulatory decisions.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Education confirmed that all competent authorities would be responsible for implementing the decision and acting in accordance with it, ensuring the fair and organized application of the approved regulations, and achieving the desired objectives of honoring outstanding individuals and motivating institutional performance in the educational field.
