The days of waking up and frantically checking local news for a last-minute school cancellation are officially over. The Saudi Ministry of Education has issued a formal and highly detailed ministerial order for the 1447 academic year, establishing clear, scientific benchmarks for when in-person studies must be suspended. This decisive policy removes all guesswork, ensuring that the health and safety of every student and teacher are prioritized the moment weather conditions become dangerous. Crucially, the order confirms that suspension (تعليق الدراسة) does not mean a holiday; it means an immediate, seamless pivot to remote learning, guaranteeing the educational process remains continuous.
School suspension rules 1447
The Ministry of Education (and regional education directorates) set clear, limited situations when in-person schooling may be suspended. These decisions are not ad-hoc: they follow coordination with the National Meteorological Authority (or regional weather services) and Civil Defence, and they focus on actual risks to students’ and staff’s safety for example heavy rain/flooding, severe sandstorms, major infectious outbreaks, or national events that disrupt normal travel. Announcements are only official when released by the Ministry or the local education office.
Official triggers for suspension
In a significant upgrade from previous policies, the Ministry now relies on specific, quantifiable metrics before authorizing a change in attendance. Regional education departments are expected to coordinate with weather services, automatically triggering a switch to remote learning when any of these nine conditions are met:
| Category | The Trigger Point | Safety Concern |
| Heavy Rain | Rainfall of 10 to 50 mm per hour or more. | Flash floods, unsafe roads. |
| Extreme Heat | Temperatures reaching 51°C or higher. | Heatstroke, facility strain. |
| Extreme Cold | Temperatures dropping to 7°C below zero (–7°C) or lower. | Hypothermia, infrastructure risk. |
| Visibility | Visibility reduced to 1 kilometer or less due to dense fog. | Commuter safety. |
| Dust Storms | Visibility reduced to 1 kilometer or less due to wind-driven sand or dust. | Respiratory health, traffic accidents. |
| Air Quality | Visibility reduced to 1 kilometer or less due to suspended dust/particulates. | Air quality, respiratory illness. |
| Severe Winds | Wind speeds reaching 60 kilometers per hour or more. | Structural damage, debris risk. |
| Snow & Ice | The occurrence of intense and severe snow storms. | Travel disruption, physical safety. |
| Coastal Alert | Sea waves exceeding 3 meters (affecting coastal schools). | Coastal flooding, facility risk. |
Important 1447 exam dates confirmed
While the new policy addresses unexpected weather disruptions, the Ministry has also confirmed the foundational academic schedule for the current year. Students should keep these dates locked in as they prepare for the first semester’s official examinations:
- Second Period Exams: Start on Sunday, Jumada al-Thani 23, 1447 H and end on Thursday, Jumada al-Thani 27, 1447 H.
- Final Written Examinations: Begin on Sunday, Rajab 15, 1447 H and conclude on Thursday, Rajab 19, 1447 H.
The seamless shift to remote learning, enabled by this new ministerial order, means that even severe weather events will not compromise the integrity or timing of these critical academic milestones.
The announcement and immediate action
The notification process is designed to be fast and authoritative: The official announcement will come directly from the regional directorates of the Ministry of Education, often in coordination with the local Civil Defense authorities who monitor the weather. News is typically shared via official social media channels (like X/Twitter) and through local news outlets. Parents and students should also rely on official announcements from their individual schools. Once the suspension is announced, the school day is not cancelled; it is immediately converted into a remote learning day.
Your responsibility
Students are expected to be ready to transition instantly to digital learning to prevent any interruption in their studies. Students must immediately log onto their designated online learning platforms, such as Madrasati (مدرستي) or other approved digital tools used by their school. Just like in-person attendance, logging into the remote classes is mandatory. Teachers will take attendance, and students must follow the regular class schedule from home. The goal is to keep education flowing while ensuring safety. Students should treat the remote day with the same seriousness as a physical school day.
The takeaway
This official ministerial order guarantees two things for the 1447 school year: students’ safety is now backed by clear scientific data, and their education will never be truly interrupted. By standardizing these rules, Saudi Arabia has built a more stable and responsive system, ensuring that learning continues, rain or shine.
