RIYADH — Minister of Education Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh issued directives for a big increase in the number of women teachers, representing 50 percent of the total teaching staff in the kindergartens during the next academic year. He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a virtual meeting of directors of education from various regions and governorates across the Kingdom. The meeting discussed various aspects and requirements of the educational process during the coming period. In his speech, Dr. Al-Sheikh lauded the utmost keenness shown by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for education and those working in this vital sector. “The King’s directive to advance the second semester examinations so as to complete exams at all levels of school and university education as well as technical and vocational education before the Eid Al-Fitr holidays will have a positive impact on the results of students and their level of performance,” he said. He also noted that this order facilitates not having any pause for study during the month of Ramadan and then return to the exams after Eid Al-Fitr holidays. The minister said that the process of evaluation of students would continue for the remainder of the current academic year so as to enhance learning outcome and prepare them early for exams. He stressed the importance of completing portions in the curricula with a focus on improving reading and writing skills of male and female students, noting the importance of making use of the analysis of test results simulating international tests to increase learning outcomes. Regarding the move to increase the number of female teachers in kindergartens to half of the total teaching staff, Dr. Al-Sheikh said that this requires the speedy conduct of a survey of schools that can add new classes for kindergartens. He stressed the necessity of integrating work within educational departments to govern their procedures, as well as to strengthen legal aspects in their practices in implementing regulations. The minister called on education administrators to expedite handling the situation of some schools, which face high student density, with bringing down the number of students in classrooms to acceptable figures. He also stressed the importance of working according to the organizational rules and the operational guide for the intellectual awareness units that were recently announced in the education departments, stressing the role of these units in promoting loyalty to religion and then to the rulers, belonging to the country, and pride in its leadership, history, civilization, and achievements. The meeting reviewed several reports presented by senior ministry officials on topics such as simulated exams, preparing for the next academic year, the My School Programming competition, and distributing prizes for the My Digital School competition before the end of the school year. It also reviewed in addition to creation of units of intellectual awareness in public education, and teacher training through the programs organized by the National Institute for Educational and Professional Development. Assistant Minister of Education Dr. Saad Al-Fohaid, a number of officials in the ministry and directors of education departments attended the meeting.