Ministry of Education Approves Official and Flexible Working Hours for Teachers and Administrators for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

- Flexibility in start and end times for all educational stages, while adhering to academic schedules and working hours.

- Biometric attendance verification is mandatory... and combining reduced working hours with flexible shifts and grace periods is not permitted.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr. Khaled Al-Rashid, issued a decision determining the official working hours and flexible shifts for school staff, including teaching and administrative personnel across all educational stages, for the 2026/2027 academic year. This includes general education schools, private "Arab" schools, religious education institutes, and special education schools, as part of efforts to organize work schedules and ensure the continuity of the educational process.

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The decision specified the official working hours for general education schools as follows: Kindergarten shifts run from 6:45 AM to 12:05 PM; primary school from 6:45 AM to 1:15 PM; intermediate school from 7:00 AM to 1:40 PM; and secondary school from 7:15 AM to 1:55 PM.

It also defined the flexible shift timings for teaching and administrative staff in general education. For kindergarten and primary school, shifts must start between 6:45 AM and 7:30 AM. Kindergarten staff must leave between 11:35 AM and 12:20 PM, while primary school staff must leave between 12:45 PM and 1:30 PM.

For intermediate school, flexible shifts start between 6:55 AM and 7:40 AM, with departure times between 1:05 PM and 1:50 PM. For secondary school, shifts start between 7:10 AM and 7:55 AM, with working hours ending between 1:20 PM and 2:05 PM.

In religious education institutes, the decision set the official shift for primary school from 6:45 AM to 1:15 PM, and for both intermediate and secondary stages from 7:00 AM to 1:40 PM.

Regarding flexible shifts in religious education, primary school shifts start between 6:45 AM and 7:30 AM and end between 12:45 PM and 1:30 PM. For intermediate and secondary stages, shifts start between 6:55 AM and 7:40 AM and end between 1:05 PM and 1:50 PM.

In special education schools, official working hours for kindergarten begin at 6:45 AM and end at 12:05 PM. For primary, intermediate, and secondary stages, shifts start at 6:45 AM and end at 1:15 PM.

Flexible shifts in special education schools for all stages start between 6:45 AM and 7:30 AM. Kindergarten staff must leave between 11:35 AM and 12:20 PM, while primary, intermediate, and secondary staff must leave between 12:45 PM and 1:30 PM.

The decision clarified that the flexible shift system aims to provide teaching and administrative staff with flexibility in choosing their start and end times, aligning with the operational needs of the school and the nature of the educational process.

It stipulated that teaching staff may utilize flexible shifts in accordance with daily academic schedules, while fully adhering to all classes. School administration, represented by the principal, vice principal, and department head, is responsible for monitoring compliance with official working hours according to prevailing regulations.

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The decision also stipulated that tardiness hours are calculated after grace periods expire, and regulations are applied if working hours are not completed. Staff are required to verify their presence via biometric attendance within 60 minutes after the two-hour grace period from the start of the shift. Failure to do so will be considered unauthorized absence, and the duration will be counted toward monthly tardiness in accordance with Article 18 of Civil Service Council Decision No. 6 of 2024.

The decision permits reduced working hours, provided that the daily workday does not fall below five hours, in accordance with Law No. 21 of 2015 concerning the rights of the child. It is not permissible to combine reduced hours with flexible working hours and grace periods.

Furthermore, workers are subject to the provisions of Law No. 8 of 2010 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities and its supplementary decisions, including regulations governing sick leave and duties performed outside the workplace.

The decision emphasized the necessity for school administration to ensure the presence of a principal or deputy principal during school hours and until the end of the official working day. This compliance is to be monitored by the stage supervisor. In case of non-compliance, a memorandum shall be submitted to the competent authorities to take the prescribed measures in accordance with Civil Service Council Decision No. 41 of 2006.

The decision organized the working hours for holders of technical guidance positions, namely the Director of Technical Guidance, the Technical Guidance Supervisor, and the Technical Guide. They are subject to a flexible working system, similar to administrative staff, with the obligation to record attendance and departure via fingerprint and to submit monthly approved reports on the visit and follow-up plan. They are also permitted to benefit from the provisions outlined in Administrative Decision No. 340 of 2022 related to the rights of persons with disabilities.