Saudi schools prohibited from charging for graduation ceremonies

Dubai: Saudi Arabia has instructed schools across the Kingdom to stop collecting money from students or their families for graduation or honor ceremonies, local media reported, citing official sources.

According to the directive, school principals must allocate funds for such events from their approved school budgets. The move is part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Education to promote equity and reduce financial pressure on families.

The new policy aims to eliminate informal or unauthorised fees that may disadvantage students from lower-income backgrounds, especially during end-of-year celebrations.

The guidance follows a separate initiative to reinforce national identity through standardized school uniforms across all grade levels.

Under the policy, elementary school boys are required to wear a traditional thobe and either a shemagh or ghutra, with the agal remaining optional. Girls must wear a pink pinafore and white blouse.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE