The Saudi Ministry of Education is taking significant steps to streamline the registration process for kindergarten, aiming to enhance the educational experience for young children. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to improve early childhood education in the Kingdom, recognizing the critical role that preschool plays in developing children's cognitive and social skills.
For the academic year 1447 AH, parents can register their children through the Noor system, an electronic platform designed to facilitate the enrollment process. The Ministry emphasizes the importance of this system in making registration easier for families.
To register a child in kindergarten via the Noor system, parents should follow these steps:
- Access the Noor system's official website.
- Select the "Register a New Student" option from the main menu.
- Enter the child's details, including name, date of birth, and ID number.
- Choose the educational stage for the child.
- Identify the nearest kindergarten to the family residence.
- Upload required documents, such as a birth certificate and any additional documents requested by the system.
- Confirm all entered information and submit the application.
- Await a confirmation message via email or through the system to verify the child's acceptance into kindergarten.
However, certain conditions must be met for registration. The child must be aged between 3 and 6 years, meaning they should have completed three years and not exceeded six years by the start of the academic year. Parents must ensure that all provided information is accurate and that medical documents confirming the child's health status are included. Additionally, the child must either be a Saudi national or hold a valid residency permit.
Registration for the Noor system is set to commence at the beginning of Jumada I 1447 AH and will conclude before May 3, 2025. Parents are strongly encouraged to register their children as early as possible to avoid congestion, particularly in high-demand kindergartens.
In light of this, the Ministry advises parents to double-check their data before submitting applications to prevent errors that could lead to registration cancellations. Ensuring all necessary documents are ready beforehand will also help streamline the process. Should any questions arise, parents can reach out to the Noor system's technical support or visit the nearest educational center for assistance.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Egyptian government has announced the reintroduction of daylight saving time, which will officially begin at midnight on Friday, April 25, 2025. This decision has sparked interest among citizens who are eager to understand the implications of this change.
According to the Cabinet's decision, the clock will be advanced by 60 minutes, marking a return to daylight saving time after its cancellation in 2018. This move is part of the government's strategy to manage energy consumption more effectively during the summer months, particularly in light of rising energy costs and the need to alleviate pressure on the national electricity grid.
Many are asking whether April 25 falls on a Thursday or Friday. The answer is that daylight saving time will commence in the first minute of Friday, following midnight on Thursday, April 24.
The Cabinet's decision is grounded in law number 24 of 2023, which reinstates daylight saving time from the last Friday in April until the last Thursday in October each year. The rationale behind this reintroduction includes several factors:
- Rising global energy prices.
- The necessity to reduce electricity consumption during peak hours.
- Supporting the state’s energy conservation plan and aligning with international environmental trends.
- Enhancing productivity through increased use of daylight.
The government aims to achieve several objectives with the implementation of daylight saving time, including:
- Reducing electricity consumption in homes and institutions.
- Alleviating strain on the national grid during peak hours.
- Minimizing the use of diesel and gas in power plants.
- Lowering harmful emissions that affect the environment.
- Supporting Egypt's Vision 2030 for sustainable development.
As the implementation of daylight saving time approaches, citizens are advised to ensure their digital devices are correctly set to reflect the time change. For Android users, this involves navigating to Settings > System > Date & Time and disabling "Automatic Time Zone." iPhone users should go to Settings > General > Date & Time and disable "Set Automatically." Keeping these settings adjusted is essential to avoid any discrepancies in appointments or reservations.
In summary, the Saudi Ministry of Education is making strides to simplify kindergarten registration, while Egypt is preparing for the return of daylight saving time, both initiatives reflecting broader goals of efficiency and sustainability. As these changes unfold, parents and citizens are encouraged to stay informed and participate actively in these processes.
