Saudi Arabia will welcome over 6 million students back to school on Sunday, August 18, 2024. This day marks the start of the 2024/2025 academic year after the end of the summer holidays.
Academic Calendar Overview
The academic calendar includes three semesters and various vacation periods. The first semester ends on November 7, 2024. The second semester begins on November 17, 2024, and ends on February 20, 2025. The third semester runs from March 2, 2025, to June 26, 2025.
Students will have several breaks throughout the year. The first vacation begins on October 17, 2024. Additional breaks are on December 11-12, 2024, and May 4-5, 2025. A two-day holiday for Saudi National Day is scheduled for September 22-23, 2024.
Chinese Language Program Expansion
New textbooks have been distributed to students. A notable addition this year is the introduction of Chinese language classes in select middle schools. This pilot program aims to expand Chinese education to the third year of high school by 2029.
Last year, second-grade students in secondary schools in Saudi Arabia started studying the Chinese language under an enriching linguistic program. This initiative comprised educational shows and interactive lessons aimed at enhancing the students’ ability to learn Chinese, with encouragement of self-learning.
Teachers Return, Exams Begin
Last week, over 30,000 schools welcomed around 500,000 teachers across the country as summer vacation ended. The Ministry of Education has outlined a 38-week academic year with 180 days and end-of-year exams scheduled after Eid al-Adha.
School principals and staff prepared early for the new year. They organized class schedules, reviewed lesson plans, and set up classrooms to ensure a smooth start.
As teachers return, second-round exams will start for students who did not pass in the first round. Schools have set up exam committees to ensure a well-organized process.
