UAE | Education

Majority of private schools hope to reopen early in September

Most private schools have said they will open in the first week of September in the absence of any official notification from the Ministry of Education.

  • By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter, and Dina El Shammaa, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 22:44 July 5, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • The debate on academic schedule in UAE continues amid worries of days lost.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News Archive

Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Most private schools have said they will open in the first week of September in the absence of any official notification from the Ministry of Education.

Schools said they are going ahead with their original plans, with some even claiming that they have obtained permission from authorities while discussions are still under way.

The ministry last week announced that all schools in the UAE will reopen after Eid Holidays on September 23, thus extending the summer break by another three weeks. In effect, though, this means that the schools will lose fewer than 14 working days as two weekends and Eid holidays will fall during the period.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) which oversees both private and public schools in Dubai said it is still awaiting clarification from the ministry regarding the opening of the schools.

"[The KHDA] has not contacted schools in Dubai about their summer vacation dates and has not made any statement concerning this matter. We are awaiting details from the Ministry of Education," said a statement issued by KHDA.

Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) told Gulf News that the ADEC feels that standardisation among all schools is important, especially since Ramadan is an important time of the year for students and families', and that a cooperative approach with the ministry is being taken to ensure that no child is affected by the decision.

"We are currently working on a solution to compensate for the lost school days with the ministry and will make sure a certain number of instructional days are introduced to make up for the academic days off during Ramadan," confirmed the director general.

A senior official at the ministry who wished to remain anonymous told Gulf News that the ministry cannot force private schools to follow its decision, even though it prefers that all schools start the new academic year at the same time.

"The ministry is currently busy meeting with different educational zones across the UAE and speaking with decision-makers regarding the matter. However, the decision at the end is up to the individual school and not us," said the spokesperson.

Most private schools maintain that their academic plans will suffer if they lose 14 working days, and hence they prefer to stick to their scheduled plan.

GEMS, which runs the largest number of private schools in the country, said its schools will be starting on schedule unless otherwise notified.

Rob Stokoe, Director of the Jumeirah English Speaking Schools, said these schools will open on September 6 as per the original plans.

"Our students are competing with the international students and it is not easy to take away days from the academic calendar. As such, our students are working six days a week in terms of the projects, research and homework they do at home. It will be too much to expect them to work seven days a week to compensate for the lost days," he said.

According to Stokoe, the school will offer home study packs and tutorials for students who prefer not to come to school during Ramadan.

Salah Sararah, Director of Dubai International School, said in the absence of any communication from the ministry, the school will open as per the scheduled plans.

He added that, although teachers and students would be happy about a delayed start, it is difficult for schools to reschedule the academic calendar.

Even though the ministry prefers a standardised solution for all schools across the UAE, current meetings between the ministry, education zones, councils and private school administrators are still under way to take a final decision regarding private schools that have their own independent curriculum.

Do you prefer having the school term start after Eid? Or are you in favour of the original schedule? Tell us below.


Your comments


I think the reason why the private school wants to start early is that they don't want to loose money. Education is business for them.
Deo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 19:22

Well summer holidays are already going boring and childrens need to go back to school. But it would be better if we start school after eid holidays and shorten the winter holidays.
Sanna Ali
Ruwais,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 19:16

As the months of hot and tiring summer commences it becomes quite difficult to do any activity without eating and drinking.As Ramadan approaches in these months its very difiicult to do any kind of work, so i think the schools all over the U.A.E must have holidays
Hassan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:52

I want the school to start after eid holidays because it will be difficult for we muslims to fast
Noora
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:51

As per the news on leading news papers, a lot of families change their date of return by paying additional charges. If they again want to change their ticket, they have to pay additional charges again. This will make a huge burden to the families in this tough time.
Gladson
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:49

14 working days with reduced working hours will be 7 or 8 full working days, which can be compensated easily.
Ramesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:44

Schools should reopen after eid because muslims can fast in peace and other religions won't disturb their past Reason 2: Children who come back from travelling need a break to refresh their mind and I wish that School reopens late for the Benifit of us and others.
Sahil Bajaj
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:38

Private schools need to start as normal. People who use the excuse that 'muslim children will feel the tough heat', please, what happens when Ramadan occurs during June. What are you going to do then? You can't keep postponing school. Also, the point of Ramadan is to feel what the lesser acheived feel. Therefore, poor people who can't afford to eat 3 or 4 meals a day can't just quit thier work and choose not to go because 'it's too hot'. So, starting after Eid is not the right move. private schools should start as normal.
Arjun O' Sullivan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:32

I wish the school may re-open after Eid.
Nikhil
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 18:02

Ramadan means month of sacrifice
Bijush
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:57

My daughter is in Grade 1. As far as the school will cover the portions without much pressure on the children, it is fine to open the schools after Eid. Most of the activities like, competitions, annual days takes place in the second term. The decision should be left to the Supervisors / or the ones who deisgn the curriculum / portions for each term.
Soly John
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:54

I wish the school start as per schedule because they will rush with the portion
Nisha Shetty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:50

schools should open as per old schedule children will hav tough time if they hav such a long break they will forget everything
Rupa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:38

I wish schools to re-open as scheduled otherwise children will loose more due to long haul of vacations and it will be difficult to copeup with the speedy completion of syllabus.
Pradeep Tyagi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:14

I want the school to start as per the schedule in the first week of September. It would be really difficult for the teachers and students to cope with 6 days work in a week and long hours of work per day.
Jenny
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:14

The decision of school remaining closed during ramadan has been delayed and already the vacation has started and most of the people have planned and left to their countries, hence it will better that atleast the next year the autoririties declare the holidays much earlier. As of now it will better that schools reopen as planned in sept first week, so that students / teachers do not get overloaded.
mohamed ishaq
abu dhabi,UAe
Posted: July 06, 2009, 17:04

I think private school should start after eid because there are many muslim student as well as teachers , during school hour bcoz of hot climate some feel difficult to fast,mean times exams are also comming up... one way becoz of extended holidays we get time for prayer...spend those important nights in mosques...meantime even for teacher if the school reopens on 23rd of september is too good bcoz from 13th special night starts so we can do prayer..if this happens ..i wiil be very grateful to the government...........thank you
Aisha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:39

It's really hot in ramadan which makes very fasting difficult so school should start after eid. Winter holidays can be reduced instead. any way it is only 14 working days ,an way we are reducing the time for ramadan, so it will be 10 working days that can bo incorperate in winter vacation. don't let the kids in schools and traffic during the hot ramadan fasting days...non working in ramadan days can be implemnted on future too
Hari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:36

The fact that there are many Muslims who are fasting even in private schools should also be considered. The loss of 14 days is not too much. So its better to start school after Eid.
From A reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:29

Schools should start as normal at the beginning of September. Life should go on as normal during Ramadan - you are not supposed to make it easier to fast - that defeats the whole concept.
Pete
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:19

14 weeks of 6 days per week is too tiring for the children. at least for this year they should go with the normal school calendar.
George V
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:19

what are you guys complaining about? Everyone's on about it being too hot and people can't fast and they are tired... helloo... thats the whole point of Ramadan. to understand tolerance, to be more mindful of how people who dont have the luxuries in life feel. To go about doing what you do everyday so you know what it feels to not have food and water and shelter! People.. try and understand the true meaning. Educate yourself and your kids. Muslims 1400 years ago lived in worse circumstances and still fasted.
Nosh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:17

Most of the private schools are starting on 30th August. The summer vacation falls right in between terms unlike in most countries where it is after the final exams. Already the children are having a two month break and an additional 3week break would mean that they would forget most of the portion they studied earlier. Also if to catch up on the portion schools start working on Saturdays then the children get only one day break and will be over burdened. Winter break could be compensated, but it is a much needed break after the mid-term exams. It is difficult for children who are fasting to attend school during Ramadan and the sentiment of the religion is finally more important than any adjustments that schools and parents would have to make for completing the portion. The decision of the Ministry must be abided and a solution where kids would not end up stressed out has to be sought.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 16:13

It's really hot in ramadan which makes very fasting difficult so school should start after eid. Winter holidays can be reduced instead.
Sana Arif
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:49

I wish the school start as per schedule because they will rush with the portion and the child will be presurrised to cope up with their studies.
Eauland
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:47

I WISH THE SCHOOL TO START AFTER EID
Ali Rizvi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:43

In my opinion,schools should start after EID.
Jiju Varghese
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:38

Original schedule so that the children are not taxed later and the portion is complete.
Violet Fernandes
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:32

I think they should delay because during the Ramadan students/teachers finding difficulties to communicate with each other. They are already fasting and at the same time they have to listen, concentrate and doing some exercise. Really it is too much
Layla
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:27

Let us stick to the decision of the ministry for this year to avoid any confusion and compensate in winter holidays, also can plan in advance for coming years.
Sudip Sengupta
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:20

It is better to reopen school after ramadan. Normally schools are loosing minimum 20 hours during Ramadan, that is 5 working days. Moreover students will not be that much actvie during this period as they are also fasting. So the loosing of study hours due to the late opening is not that much big as it is discussed. This lose can be compansated with in a short period of time.
Shajahan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:17

GEMS schools in AD return on 8 sept so in fact we are only talking about 7 school days which are actually shortened to 4 hours per day. I am a teacher and I do not believe that the loss of so few school hours during Ramadan will affect students performance. It is better for everyone if all schools reopen after Eid
Jane
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:11

14 days means 14 saturdays to go to school for my kids who have already very heavy schedules in normal school days. the concept of ramadan is to carry on with normal life
Yasmina
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:07

i need the school to start as per schedule.
Gladys
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 11:05

I WISH THE SCHOOL TO START AFTER EID
Akhil
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:35

I think that the private schools should start after eid because there are many muslims in my school and during school hours some of them find it difficult to fast, there are even exams coming up in october, if the school starts after eid we will have some time to study for the examinations. Many of us will travel during summer vacations some may not have the time to study for our exams.
Anshuman Bharadwaj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:24

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