The "Hadhouri" program has retreated from the mandatory 7-hour unified attendance for teachers and administrative staff in schools starting from the new academic year, according to what Minister of Education Youssef Al-Bunyan announced at the government press conference held in Riyadh yesterday (Monday), during which he reviewed the ministry's plan for the new academic year.

The minister explained that after reviewing the work mechanism in the "Hadhouri" platform, the attendance of teachers at school will end with the conclusion of the school day, according to each school's plan, starting from the new academic year, thus ending the implementation of the unified attendance and departure hours.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Mona Al-Ajmi, confirmed this direction, clarifying through her official account on the "X" platform that the departure of teachers and administrative staff will be according to the approved schedule for each school.

"Qattat" and Long Distances

"Okaz" has been following the issues related to the "Hadhouri" program since its implementation, and published a report in September 2025 titled (Hadhouri Hours Anger Teachers... and "Education" Responds), which addressed teachers' demands to reconsider attendance hours and link them to the nature of school work and the presence of students.

Okaz also monitored in another report titled ("Hadhouri" Imposes Teachers' Lunch Breaks in Schools) the suffering of teachers who travel long distances between their schools and homes, with some having to buy and eat lunch inside the school due to the continuation of attendance hours until the end of the school day.

In a third report titled ("Hadhouri" Requires Teachers' Children to Stay in Schools Until Their Parents' Work Ends!), the implications of the application on teachers' families were discussed, particularly regarding the connection of some children's departure to the end of their parents' work hours.

In another follow-up, Okaz reported in a report ("Hadhouri" is Mandatory Today... and Authority is in the Hands of the Principal) the developments that have occurred in the application mechanism and the powers granted to school administrations in organizing attendance and departure.

With the adoption of each school's schedule, "Hadhouri" turns the page on the 7-hour attendance that has sparked controversy since its implementation, making the departure times for teachers and administrative staff linked to the approved schedule for each school, instead of imposing unified hours on all schools.

Developmental Step

Teachers confirmed to "Okaz" that the new decision is expected to address several observations that accompanied the implementation of the unified attendance and departure hours, and that linking attendance to the nature of the school day gives schools greater flexibility in organizing work, without compromising educational and administrative tasks.

Educational researcher Makhlad Al-Rouqi told "Okaz" that updating the organization of attendance and departure hours, and allowing teachers to leave at the end of the school day according to each school's schedule, represents a developmental step that takes into account the nature of educational work and field needs.

Improving Work Quality

Al-Rouqi clarified that the new organization does not mean reducing commitment, but rather enhances good time management and links attendance to actual work requirements, providing teachers with a better space for planning, preparation, and professional development, which contributes to improving the quality of professional life, reducing daily pressures, and increasing job satisfaction, reflecting positively on teacher performance and student learning quality.

Al-Rouqi pointed out that the decision enhances trust in teachers and supports a culture of responsibility and achievement, while focusing on the quality of outputs and educational impact, while at the same time maintaining the regularity of the school day and the continuity of the educational process.

For his part, Khaled Al-Juaid believes that the decision takes into account the nature of the school day, giving teachers their time after completing their tasks, which enhances professional stability and prepares them to return with greater energy for a new school day.