Saudi Arabia bans Abaya in examination halls
The Saudi Education and Training Evaluation Commission (ETEC) announced that female students will not be allowed to wear abaya, the traditional Saudi dress for women, in examination halls.
The ETEC said that female students must wear school uniforms inside exam halls, which adhere to the kingdom’s public decency regulations.
ETEC, formerly known as the Education Evaluation Authority, is a government organisation responsible for planning, evaluation, assessment, and accreditation of educational and training systems in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in coordination with the Ministry of Education.
This institution was established in 2017 following Decree No. 120 of the Council of Ministers.
Earlier in 2018, the kingdom has announced that the abaya would no longer be legally enforced, although a large number of women in Saudi Arabia still wear the traditional dress.
