Schools 'were not consulted on unified academic term'

Dubai: Private and public schools have urged the Ministry of Education to provide further clarifications on its announcement made on a unified academic calendar for private and public schools from the next academic year.

"Before making such an announcement the ministry should discuss the matter with the various school managements operating in the UAE," said Zafar Baker, Vice-Principal of Dubai National School, Twar branch.

The media yesterday received a circular outlining the new unified holiday dates and academic terms, issued by the Ministry of Education.

Under the unified academic calendar the school academic year is scheduled to begin on August 26, 2007, while that of teaching and administrative staff will begin on August 19, 2007.

Currently the start of the academic year varies in both public and private sector.

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Education, in the circular had said that once the new unified calendar is implemented both private and public schools will start and finish their academic year during the same period, along with the mid-term break.

The decision aims to revamp the educational system in the UAE by structuring a plan for the improvement of education equivalent to the developed countries, said Dr Hassan.

He also mentioned that a unified academic calendar will solve the disparity between the public and private sectors, and it will support parents, who have children in these sectors to enjoy their holidays together.

Mohammad Hassan, principal of Mohammad Bin Rashid Secondary School for Boys, a public school, said: "This year the mid-term vacation was scheduled from January 21 to February 1 which is in line with the Gulf countries and at times also in line with other Arab countries."

According to him, the new vacation time table takes into consideration Christmas and New Year. "This shows that the minister has also taken the opinion of Western academicians," said Hassan.

The minister was unavailable for comment when contacted by Gulf News.

Moutez Marouf, a parent, was nonchalant. According to him, parents will not have a problem in planning their vacations if they send their children to the same school.

"My children attend a British curriculum school. The problem is with the parents and not with the education system. If the ministry is so concerned on the clashing of vacation dates then they should also look into situations where one parent has Thursday-Friday as his weekend while the other has Friday-Saturday. Don't the children need both parents at home?" he asked.

Ann McPhee, Director of Education, Global Management Systems (GEMS), a private education group with 22 schools of various curriculums said: "We are seeking further clarification concerning applicability of this academic year, as stakeholders have already made arrangements around the previously published dates. Nevertheless, we welcome this initiative and do not foresee any challenges should this be implemented next academic year," she said.

"It creates a challenge," said Geoff Turner, Principal of Jumeirah College which follows the British curriculum. "Schools following British curriculum will be affected as the UK curriculum starts in June," he said.

Briton Farida Lees agreed with the new unified academic calendar and said that it would assist parents to plan their vacation.

A teacher who preferred anonymity said that the unified academic calendar lacks balance between the two terms. "In the new set up the first term is shorter than the second term. You hardly have any holidays in the second term. Our opinion should have been sought. The decision also affects us," the teacher said.

The announcement is welcome, since parents working in a different school find it difficult to adjust the holidays and school timings. My wife works as a full-time teacher in an Arabic/English school, whereas my child is studying in a British curriculum school. The school timings are also different, for example my wife's school starts at 7:20am and my child attends at 8:30am so during the holiday period we have to look for a temporary shelter for my 4-year-old daughter. Now I hope this problem will be changed with the new system.
Denzil
Sharjah,UAE

Lately there has been too much fiddling around with the education system. Dubai is a cosmopolitan city where people of many nationalities live and their kids go to respective schools, which are affiliated with leading institutions of their respective countries and follow the schedules accordingly. Now, since Dubai has amended the school schedules, do they expect the various institutions in different countries will alter their schedules accordingly? Instead of solving problems this decision has in fact created many more problems.
Asif
London,UK

As parents we plan well in advance, including for our holidays. Also it is too hot in August and I suggest schools start in mid-September. If not, implementation should be from the 2008-9 academic year.
Nirain
Dubai,UAE

This sudden declaration to change the academic term starting on August 26 would affect many who have made prior bookings for their vacations. We have already made a holiday booking to return to Dubai by August 31 after getting information from the school that the term would start on September 2. To change this will be more difficult.
R.
Dubai,UAE