Ministry of Education Completes Preparations to Welcome 481,000 Students for the New Academic Year
- First-grade primary classes begin tomorrow, Sunday; other grades start on Monday
- 391,604 students in general education, 86,762 in private Arab schools, and 3,145 in religious education
- Gifted Students Office completes screening tests for 1,000 students in the first phase
- “Guidance, Research, and Curricula” trains school principals on the “Pathways System”
As the Ministry of Education continues its preparations to welcome students and launch the new academic year 2026–2027—ensuring schools and educational and administrative staff are ready, providing a suitable learning environment, and completing all requirements related to the start of classes—it reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe and stable educational environment that contributes to the continuity of the educational process and the achievement of its objectives from the very first day.
The Ministry of Education stated in a press release that the new academic year 2026–2027 will begin tomorrow, Sunday, with first-grade primary students only. Students in other primary, intermediate, and secondary grades will start classes on Monday, while kindergarten children will begin their classes on Wednesday.
The Ministry noted that the total number of students in government schools, private Arab schools, and religious education institutions amounts to 481,511 students. This figure includes all educational stages and Arab educational systems that admit students at the start of the new academic year.
Specifically, the total number of students in general education in government schools is 391,604, while the total number of students in private Arab (“independent”) schools is 86,762. The number of students in religious education stands at 3,145, bringing the overall total to 481,511 students.
In line with the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to support gifted students and discover their potential, the Ministry of Education announced that the Gifted Students Office has completed screening tests for approximately 1,000 students. Tests for an additional 70 students will be completed next Sunday, as part of the first phase of the gifted student identification procedures.
The Ministry added that the Gifted Students Office has also finished reviewing and sorting applications from teaching staff members. Test dates and personal interviews for these candidates have been scheduled for the current week, as part of the approved procedures for selecting qualified personnel.
Regarding textbooks, the Ministry of Education clarified that the rate of receiving books from printing presses and distributing them to schools has reached 97 percent. Out of 141 textbooks, 137 have been received, as part of measures taken to ensure the availability of necessary learning materials for students at the beginning of the school year.
The Ministry pointed out that the transfer of teaching staff and supervisory positions in schools has been completed. It is currently working on resolving submitted appeals, in accordance with established procedures, to ensure job stability for educational and supervisory staff and to meet the needs of schools.
The Ministry further stated that training courses on the new tenth-grade curricula included supervisors of technical guidance, guidance counselors, department heads, as well as teachers. This training was localized within scientific departments to ensure direct delivery to the relevant educational staff.
The Ministry explained that localizing training within scientific departments aims to support the educational field and enhance the capacity of educational staff to handle the new curricula, strengthening their readiness to implement them in line with specified educational and pedagogical objectives.
Regarding preparations for implementing the tracks system in secondary education, the Ministry of Education clarified that the General Directorate of Guidance, Research, and Curricula has completed a training course targeting school principals, as part of the preparations for rolling out the tracks system during the 2026–2027 academic year.
It noted that training school leadership constitutes a crucial step in preparing for the system’s implementation, by standardizing understanding of procedures and monitoring mechanisms, and enhancing schools’ capacity to support learners and their parents during the first year of implementation. This aims to bolster schools’ readiness to welcome students and ensure a smooth start to the academic year. The Ministry emphasized that a comprehensive training program for the tracks system, covering department heads, teachers, and counselors, will be implemented in the coming weeks.
It further added that work is currently underway to review applications submitted by students enrolled in the tracks system, paving the way for sending admission notifications. Students will be informed of the outcomes of their applications via the “Masar” platform, either through direct follow-up with students or via notifications sent through the “Sahl” app.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing a safe learning environment for students and educational staff, and to continuing its efforts to monitor schools’ readiness and complete requirements related to the academic year, thereby supporting the provision of a stable and motivating environment that fosters learning and academic achievement.
