Okaz/Saudi Gazette



RIYADH — The Ministry of Education has prohibited taking photos of boy and girl students as well as teachers and administrative staffers inside the school premises without fulfilling a number of conditions.

These conditions include a written permission from the school principal in a prescribed form prepared for the purpose, and this is after notifying and coordinating with the school’s media coordinator.

According to the guide of regulations for taking photography inside the school premises, issued by the ministry, it is mandatory to obtain written consent from parents in the beginning of each academic year for the designated photo shoot of school events and class activities of boy students at all school levels, and girl students in the elementary level inside the school premises. The ministry was represented by the General Department for Information and Communications in issuing the guide.

The ministry noted that it is allowed to take photographs of school project works of girl students in the intermediate and secondary levels.

The ministry has assigned the exclusive task of undertaking the photo shoot of events within the school premises to the school media coordinator. For this, an official letter of assignment shall be issued by the school principal. These also include taking photographs of major school events, competitions as well as the school’s accomplishments.

The ministry’s new rules prohibit taking pictures of boy and girl students and publish their photos in personal accounts on social media platforms. There should be a sign board placed in a prominent place at the school entrance stating that photography won’t be allowed unless after obtaining official permission in accordance with the attached format given in the guide of regulations.

The ministry stressed that it is also prohibited taking photographs by the external parties inside the school premises unless after obtaining an official approval from the Educational Media Department in the Department of Education. The ministry confirmed that the outside party must have an official media license from the Ministry of Media or a license to practice a profession for educational purposes in order to undertake photo shoots inside the school premises.