Education Ministry goes digital; every student to get a QR-code ID card

RIYADH —While students in public schools across Saudi Arabia are preparing for the start of the new academic year on Sunday, Aug. 23, they embark on a new digital technology experience that will enable them to monitor their academic progress in coordination with their teachers and parents. The service, launched by the Ministry of Education through the Unified Education Portal, enables students, parents, and teachers to access various school assignments, including homework, periodic tests, and other school tasks. The chat feature also facilitates continuous communication between parents, teachers, and school administrative staff, eliminating the need for in-person visits to the school. The Ministry has enabled male and female students to access their digital identification card, an official electronic identity containing their basic information, including their name, nationality, identity number, school, and grade level. The service is intended to facilitate their identification while also allowing the validity of their identity information to be verified through a QR code for use by the competent authorities. The Ministry has also made several other electronic services available through the portal, including transferring the guardianship of a new student to their home, registering for school buses, transferring students between schools, and registering a guardian.