KUWAIT: More than 40,000 Grade 12 students — in both the scientific and literary streams — are embarking on their first-semester final exams for the 2024-2025 academic year, set to begin this Sunday. The Ministry of Education announced Saturday that all preparations have been finalized to welcome the students. This marks the start of a critical examination period, and the ministry has put in place comprehensive measures to ensure that the exams run smoothly and efficiently.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry urged Grade 12 students to give their best efforts, emphasizing the importance of diligence, effective time management, and thorough review of study materials. It also reminded students to adhere to the exam rules and regulations. Grade 12 students will be the last to begin their final exams among public and private Arabic language schools. In preparation for the exam season, the Ministry of Education has introduced new measures to uphold exam integrity, following a series of cheating scandals and exam leaks that plagued the 2024 exam periods. These steps aim to restore trust in the examination process and ensure a fair environment for all students.

In a recent review, the Ministry of Education uncovered several serious violations in the exam preparation process, including conflicts of interest involving employees at the Central Secure Printing Press, which is responsible for printing high school exams. An internal investigation revealed that seven employees at the press had first-degree relatives — specifically their children — who were set to take the exams. This directly violated the core principles of fairness and neutrality that govern the exam process. The ministry dismissed several employees from the printing press after following the investigation and replaced them with new personnel who meet strict criteria and comply with the relevant exam regulations.

The Ministry of Education has also introduced a new “national proctor” system to enhance the integrity and transparency of exams. Proctors, who come from experienced ministry staff, are responsible for ensuring compliance with exam regulations, monitoring exam committees, and supervising secure printing facilities. National proctors were obliged to sign a pledge of neutrality and avoid conflicts of interest.

Exams to end Jan 16

The ministry also took the opportunity to congratulate middle school students, as well as 10th and 11th graders, for successfully completing their exams. The ministry expressed appreciation for the hard work of all those involved in organizing the exams, ensuring a conducive environment that supports students in focusing and performing with peace of mind. The ministry emphasized its commitment to resolving any potential obstacles that students might face during this period, fostering a reassuring and supportive atmosphere.

A total of 43,905 Grade 12 students — including those from general, private, religious, and special education sectors — are sitting for the first-semester exams. Of these, 29,180 students are enrolled in the scientific stream, while 13,955 students belong to the literary stream. Additionally, 770 students from the religious education sector began their exams on Sunday, December 29, 2024. The scientific stream exams are scheduled to conclude on January 15, with the literary and religious education exams wrapping up on January 16.