UAE | Education
UAE schools will extend work hours to cope with late start
Many private schools will extend hours or open on Saturdays to make up for the loss of days
- By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor, and Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 22:48 July 2, 2009
- Students at the Wellington International School break up for the summer holidays. The school year will start later this year due to Ramadan.
- Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News
Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Many private schools will extend hours or open on Saturdays to make up for the loss of days following the Ministry of Education's decision to delay the reopening of all schools until after the Eid holidays.
Schools will begin on September 23. Administrative and teaching staff must report on September 13.
Minister of Education Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami told Gulf News on Thursday that senior officials at the ministry and a committee representing different private schools will meet next week to discuss the delayed start to the acdemic year.
Al Qutami said the ministry is aware of the importance of taking into account the view of private school's administrations, as some use European, others American and yet others Asian curriculums.
The ministry will discuss the best way of applying its decision to postpone the school year until after the Eid holidays, he said, adding that the ministry will take into consideration any difficulties these schools face.
Al Qutami added that the decision applies to all schools regardless of the curriculum used.
Private schools that spoke to Gulf News said they will seek the ministry's permission to work on Saturdays or have extended working hours to cope with the late start.
Ashok Kumar, CEO of Indian High School in Dubai, said his school will have to work on Saturdays to compensate for the loss of days.
Parents have welcomed the decision. Harry Maltby, a 35-year-old British expatriate, said: "It is really good to extend the school holidays as children who are fasting would otherwise have to be at school until the afternoon."
Universities are not currently changing their academic calendar to fall in line with the Ministry of Education's decision.
With inputs from Huda Tabrez, Community Web Editor, Dina El Shammaa and Rania Moussly, Staff Reporters
Your comments
We pay a lot of fees for the kids to go to school. Shouldn't schools be giving a discount on fees as children will spend more time at school for the first term?
Tazeen Ahmad
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 17:22
It's too cool to hear about extended holiday. The loss of study is managable but it gives better time to enjoy the real meaning of Ramadan.
Nahida Aurangzeb
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:41
This is not a good decision. I go to an American school and I.B exams need to fall into place with other schools. Also, students will have to work during the hottest time of the year, that is frankly, unacceptable. My school will probably not tolerate these decisions and hopefully will be granted permission to start earlier. I know it's hard for children during Ramadan, but Ramadan is about feeling what the poorer feel. Therefore, fasting during the hot weather will be very good, spritually for Muslims.
Angry Student
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:27
As a Muslim we are really happy that school holidays have been extended. It was really hard to go school while fasting.
We can worship more in the holy month due to the holidays.
Hassan Yasin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:17
It is too late for such a decision, all families have already made plans for the next academic year. I do not think this is fair at all.....
Hanan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:06
This is another example of a rushed decision which has not been given any thought. Students in the British system will have no time to register for the October/November exam session as the last date is end of September.
Also what about National Day and the other Eid at the latter part of November. This decision must be reversed to allow for a full teaching year.
Paul Abbott
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:01
I can only see this as burden on the teachers and students, as they will have to go to school on Saturdays or extend their working hours. Teaching or learning both have their limits. As it is during Ramadan, the working hours are reduced, then why extend the holidays?
Edwin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:01
It is good idea to open school on Saturday, it will help those who are studying in A-Level specially, because one month holidays means that their study will definately disturb.
Syed Zafar Emdad Rizvi
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 16:01
It is very convenient for the Muslim students as when they are fasting, they will be wasting their energy in school and will be very exhausted which cause serious health problems to them. Therefore, I really appreciate the decision of the Ministry of Education.
Joseph Mathew Kurien
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 15:06
Yes, it is good for the children, those who are fasting. But I feel it is a late decision made by the Ministry of Education since it is difficult to cope with the plans of those who have already been on vacation/planned their vacation. Moreover it would pressure the students to complete the missing hours of education once they resume.
Shaleen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 14:35
Yes, I appreciate the decision to re-open the school after Eid, as it's difficult to teach while fasting. Also, children will find it tough, as it's too hot in the coming days.
Syed Humaira
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 14:32
No need to give full holidays. They can start a little late, means at 9 o'clock and finish the school at 12 o' clock. So children will reach at home by 1 o'clock. And I am sure they will learn also with in the time. After holidays it will be very hard to work on Saturdays also. Keep the regular routine but be little slow. Because after holidays work load, finishing of lessons and memorise all will be very hard for children. And I am sure if children will be in routine, parents will be happy.
Teacher
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 14:27
It's a real setback, student's of grades X and XII would come under great pressure. Immediately after the school re-opens we will be attacked by stream of tests and exams. It was much better if the school had opened at when it should have re-opened. I hope the ministry at least grants permission to certain schools to re-open the school according to their own convenience.
Yaser
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 14:05
The school is re-opening on the 23rd and they will charge us the whole months fees for just 7 days that's left in the month, including the bus fees, which is bad for families that have about 3 children in the same school. I suggest that the whole month should be given off. Thank you
Abdullah Jalees
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 13:35
It's really a wonderful decision given by the Ministry....I thank them a lot for this great idea. It's a good idea saving students from hot weather in the holy month of Ramadan. I hope we will cover our syllabus wholeheartedly by doing much hardwork.
Khadija Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 13:11
This is inconvenient! Many kids would rather come in normal time to school than stay longer hours or work for 6 days. The school has strict rules during Ramadan over food and drink in front of Muslims and the school days shorter so they can cope. Extending summer to the end of Eid will create chaos and although at the time students will be happy with the longer holiday, once the 6-day school week hits, there will be uproar. People won't cope and this could cause poorer effort in school as the students won't have been given a break. My advice is don't change anything and stick to the plan of coming back on the original times.
Henry
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 13:02
The decision of the the Ministry of Education to postpone the reopening of schools is rather a good decision as the heat is too severe and the children have to go to school fasting.But won't this effect the students appearing for the board exams?
Lulu
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 12:45
its good being a muslim teacher i feel that its very difficult to teach the children while fasting and the muslim children have be at school until the afternoon when the days are very hot
Ghazala Zafar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 12:12
it is good to school reopen after eid holidays because during the ramadan its difficult to go to school
Aziz Fatima
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 12:05
it is realy good to extend the school holidays because being a muslim we worship more in the holy month of ramadan.
Imtiaz Kausar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 11:59
Being responsible for Grade 12 students, this news has come as a sort of setback. Holidays and sentiments are always welcome, but when it comes to the academic year of Grade 12 students and the syllabus content, lesser teaching time is a bit of worry. NO doubt we'll get extra time to cover up, but still, if this decision was known earlier, we could have worked a little more before closing the schools down for summer vacations, as the academic year for CBSE Grade 12 ends almost by December(for March exams).
Gurpreet Modi
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 03, 2009, 11:39
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