Health Ministry Urges First-Grade School Fitness Screening

The Saudi Ministry of Health has called on parents to complete the school fitness screening for children entering first grade of primary school. The examination is a key step before a child begins formal education and is carried out at primary healthcare centers, usually through the Family Medicine Clinic.

Parents can book an appointment through the Sehhaty application. After logging in, select Appointments, then Book an Appointment, choose a primary healthcare center, select the Family Medicine Clinic, pick the date and time, and confirm. The child must attend the appointment with a parent or guardian.

Families should bring the child's national ID or residence permit along with the original vaccination certificate. During the visit, staff review the child's medical history, verify vaccinations, and conduct a clinical examination. The screening also measures height and weight, calculates body mass index (BMI), and includes vision, hearing, speech, and dental and oral assessments.

Why it matters

The results help determine whether a child should be placed in general education or special education, and whether any referral is needed for further care. This makes the screening an important early check that supports each child's health and learning needs before the school year begins.

The service is provided through Ministry of Health facilities. No fee is specified for the screening, and the available Ministry information does not set a fixed validity period for the examination. Booking is handled entirely through Sehhaty, with no additional separate procedure required to reserve an appointment.

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