Abu Dhabi: No official decision has been made with regard to making changes to the 2009-10 academic year for public and private schools across the UAE to accommodate Ramadan, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council have said.

An official from the MoE told Gulf News that apart from the recently announced calendar for Asian schools, which are due to start their academic year on April 5, break up on June 28 and then resume on August 30, no other decisions have been made.

"We have not made any official decisions yet with regards to postponing the academic school year across private and public schools to after Ramadan and Eid. The dates remain as is in all schools until further notice," the MoE official said.

Dr Mariam Al Ali, Director of the Supervising and Monitoring of Private Schools Department at the Education Ministry, said the department recently set the academic calendar for private Asian schools since their academic year differs from the rest of private international and Arabic schools, as well as that of public schools.

"Nothing has been officially declared about postponing the academic year until after Ramadan. The ministry is yet to declare the beginning of the academic year..." she said.

On contacting several public and private schools across the capital, Gulf News learned that private schools such as the International School of Choueifat will resume their academic year between August 30 and September 2.

The British School - Al Khubairat will start on September 1 and public/government schools such as the Fatma Bint Mubarak School will resume its academic year on August 23.

- With additional inputs from Siham Al Najami, Staff reporter

Would you want schools to start after Ramadan? How does fasting affect your child's studies?


Your comments


I would recommend schools closing for summer in Mid July and recommencing after Eid Holidays. No damage done.
Zoher M. K.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 14:42

I support the feelings of Khawaja Ahmad, it's a routine life.
Mubarak Ali M. K.
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 14:42

Ramadan is month of fasting, it does not say stop working because you are fasting, it's about controlling your temptations, so i feel, work should continue as is, if someone cant keep up then they must not fast rather.
Kamal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 14:12

I agree with the reopening of school after ramadan because during ramadan it will be extremely hot across UAE. As students going to school during ramadan, it will be a burden to them as they are fasting as well as giving importance to their studies. Not only that, muslim students should give more importance to their quranic recetation as well. So this can decrease the concentration of students towards studies and this can cause tension. Already i experienced it, as i completed my school life this year. So i hope the authorities order to reopen schools after ramadan.The syllabus can be managed by keeping some extra classes after vacation and by giving some portions [homework] to be complete during holidays.
Rashid
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 14:08

Either way i think a decision is needed now so that the families of the children who go away in the summer can book flights and also those children who fast can be prepared mentally to what is expected.
Marie Munro
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 14:06

I request authorities to consider to change summer vacation to start from third week of July and to re-open after Eid. I have two school-going children and they fast. I found that it's tough for them to concentrate on studies while fasting. The change could be until Ramdan arrives during summer. Children won't be affected that much as they are not exposed to too much sun due to air-conditioned classrooms and buses.
Shereen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 13:54

No need to change the reopening date because the students who are studying in between grade 10 and 12 may suffer a lot in completing the portions in time.
Sandiya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 13:48

Vacation is preferable during Ramadan since we can protect our children from dehydration and hot summer.
Murugavel
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 13:26

Please don't make any changes. Most of the people book their tickets to home country well in advance to get lower fare and seat. Present school calender is perfect. During Ramadan it is only few hours and students can easily adjust with it also traffic will be less.
Saqeer S. V.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 13:11

It is better if the schools reopen after the Ramdan. Families can celebrate the Ramdan and Eid in home contries with other family members.
Jamal
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 13:03

No, it is summer vacation not Ramadan holidays. We can't think our children are going to school in July, the peak summer. And here school days are less compare to our home country.
Jisha Job
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 11:27

No need, it will be a long vacation.
Haris
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 11:12

Definitely after Ramadan and Eid. the kids will be tired and will not be having enough chance to adjust during ramadan timing.
Jamal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 10:54

There should not be any changes in the school. The number of days in school is not enough for the portion to be completed and yet if you deduce the days, there will be left without being taught much.
Edna
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 10:48

Since Ramadan starts mid of August, schools can be start after Eid Holidays. The only way to adjust the summer vacation starting the second week of July instead of Mid June. Nothing to lose adjusting like this and parents, students can concentrate studies more after Eid holidays.
Noufal Hassan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 10:44

In the month of Ramadan it's too hot for our children cannot keep fasting as well as going to school. So please it's our request to give vacation in the month of Ramadan.
Sariya Fatima
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 10:33

Please change this calender because children are very tired so kindly changes next year.
Sajeev
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 09:45

I do not think schools should start before Ramadan, with short timing at schools, hot weather, and having one week holiday after a limited period. This won't help the students at all. On the other side, the teachers will explain the lessons in a very short and fast way so that they won't be delayed for their weekly plan.
Hanan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 09:44

There will be only 15 working days during Ramadan, the working hours for schools also comparatively lesser than other months and I think the traffic congestion gets heavier during ramadan. Considering these facts, I hope the authorities should reveiw the academic calendar.
Abdullah Kunhi Bellippady
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 09:31

We are one of those families that spend the last week of Ramandan and Eid with our parents back in India and we will be doing the same this year also. However, it would be a problem again because my daughter will miss her 3 weeks of school. I hope the authorities postpone the start of holidays to cover the entire Ramadan period.
Mohammad Taqui Yezdi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 09:05

Schools should be closed during Ramadan. It effects the studies of students.
Mansour Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 09:04

I do not seem to understand what link does going to school has with fasting. Does it mean that once the kids grow up and start their professional careers they should stop going to work during Ramadan? I always thought that life should remain as usual in Ramadan apart from stopping ourselves from doing anything which is prohibited to do during this holy month and i dont think going to school or work is prohibited. It is the best time for kids to learn how practical life will be in years to come where the companies they will work will certainly not close down during Ramadan.
Khawaja Ahmad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 08:43

I prefer to follow the regular summer vacation.
Shajahan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 08:37

The school should as decided because there are many families who booked the tickets for their vacation according to declared academic schedule.
Bindu
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 08:37

Schools should not conduct examinations during Ramadan. Otherwise schools need not be closed during Ramadam. Since coming years Ramdan will be in Summer I wish students get at least the last ten days as holiday.
Afsa
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 08:07

I want schools to reopen after ramadan, because then kids will also keep fasting and enjoy the month of ramadan. its hot also in september, if the schools will open after ramadan it will be a pleasure.
Shan Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 12, 2009, 05:24