School stages are composed of thirty-six (36) consecutive terms, each being eighty-three (83) days. Each term is assigned a group of teaching units. The student commences school stages with the first term. He is promoted upon succeeding in a course to the next one until he completes the school stages by successfully completing all thirty-six terms. The Hijri year is divided into four periodically equal terms, with a student holiday break interval of three (3) days between each term. The following chart demonstrates the commencement and completion dates of each term, and the break intervals separating the courses:

CHART: ANNUAL SCHOOL Courses and HOLIDAYS

The child enters school immediately upon completing six years of age according to the Hijri calendar. Accordingly, State schools will accept new students at the beginning of each school term of the four terms of each year i.e. approximately every three months. The child is able to enter the first school term (of the four available in the year) nearest to his attaining six years of age according to the Hijri calendar.

The student can rest one school term only after every three consecutive terms at the least, but he can also continue his study without any such rest. Thus the system enables the serious student to complete the school stages in a shorter time than his contemporaries by continuing his studies within the school terms successfully without taking the rest periods or reducing them. The study time unit is the school term which is composed of 83 days and not the annual year; each term has its own subject curriculum and students.

The student who continues his school terms successfully without taking any leave can complete thirty-six terms in nine years (36/4=9 years) whereupon he would have completed the school stages upon completing 15 years of age. If he studies the thirty-six terms at an average of only three school terms every year i.e. by usually resting one school term after every three consecutive terms, together with successfully completing all terms, he would complete the school stages in twelve years (36/3=12 years) whereupon he would complete the school stages upon attaining 18 years of age.

Some students may need a year or two after attaining 18 years to complete the three school stages. If they attain 20 years without passing the school stages’ public examinations, they are excused from regular study and choose between joining vocational institutes or retaking the public examinations again so as to join university education if successful.

This system of school terms, apart from taking into account individual differences between students, also takes great care over the importance of time and their academic achievement.

The chart attached at the end of this book demonstrates the distribution of the 36 school terms among student age groups. It also demonstrates the lowest as well as the average age of students upon graduation and completion of school stages.

A “Comprehensive school” complex is established between small villages to implement this term system, and transportation of students from their homes to and from school will be secured.