The second semester begins tomorrow without central exams

The second semester of the current academic year 2025-2026 will begin tomorrow, Monday, January 5, without central exams, as the state’s public and private schools that apply the Ministry of Education’s curriculum receive about one million and 100 thousand students, male and female, from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

According to the approved academic calendar, the number of school days is 69 days (9 weeks), distributed between 47 days for actual study, 19 days for weekly vacations, in addition to 3 days for mid-semester vacation, in order to ensure achieving a balance between academic achievement and the comfort of students and educational bodies.

Student evaluation
In detail, the process of evaluating students in the second semester is based on fundamental changes adopted by the Ministry of Education at the beginning of the current academic year to ensure the efficiency of educational outcomes, as the central exams for the end of the second semester for all academic levels were canceled and replaced by the school summative assessment, with the aim of making optimal use of school days, diversifying and improving tools for measuring student performance, improving the quality of student life, and developing the learning methods and teaching methods used.

New evaluation weights
The second semester witnesses the adoption of new evaluation weights for students of the three educational cycles (first, second, and third), as the weight of the second semester for students of the first cycle was set at 30%, distributed by 20% for the school formative test measured by grade, and 10% for the school summative evaluation.

A weight of 30% was also allocated to students of the second cycle in the same semester, with 10% for each of the grade-monitored formative tests, project-based learning, and the school summative assessment.
While the weight of the second semester for third year students was 20%, distributed by 10% for the formative test measured by the grade, and 10% for the school final evaluation.

Specialized training
The second semester includes the implementation of specialized training programs for administrative and educational staff during the period from February 11 to 13, with the aim of developing professional performance, raising the efficiency of educational practices, and keeping pace with educational developments.
The end of the second semester exams are scheduled to be held from March 4 to 13, with the spring and Eid al-Fitr vacation for students, teaching, administrative, and technical staff beginning on Monday, March 16, 2026, and continuing until the 29 of the same month.

Announcement of results
The calendar set the period from January 7 to January 9 to analyze and announce the results of the first semester, as part of the schools’ keenness to accurately complete academic requirements and assess students’ levels diagnostically, which contributes to directing supportive educational plans during the new semester.

restructuring
School administrations focused on restructuring academic schedules according to precise planning methodologies that ensure balance in the distribution of academic materials and take into account the requirements of the educational process and the needs of teaching staff, through flexible and scientific mechanisms for preparing classroom lessons.

Digital platforms
In parallel, schools strengthened their communication with parents through digital platforms and social media, providing a package of instructions and directives that contribute to preparing students to return to school with positive and renewed energy, which included prior disclosure of weekly plans and school bus operating times, in a way that enhances the effective partnership between the school and the family.