Dubai Students Enjoy 3-Week School Break

Post by : Dr. Amrinder Pal Singh

_{Image used for illustrative purpose. Getty Images}

In March, coinciding with the Holy month of Ramadan and the anticipated Eid Al Fitr holidays, most students will enjoy a three-week long break. Institutions will be closed for either the spring or end-of-term break during this period.

According to the Hijri calendar published on the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) website, Ramadan is set to begin on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. As per the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) website, private schools in Dubai will observe a break from Monday, March 25, to Monday, April 15, 2024, starting from September.

The extended holiday period, lasting for an extra week beyond the usual two-week break, is due to the expected Eid Al Fitr festival, potentially falling on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, depending on the moon sighting. If confirmed, Dubai could observe holidays from Monday, April 8, to Friday, April 12, resulting in a nine-day break for families when considering the weekends before and after this period.

Some principals explain that this could result in at least three weeks of breaks for certain year groups. Mohammedali Kottakulam, Principal of Gulf Indian High School Dubai, mentioned that annual exams are scheduled to end by March 14, and the new academic year 2024-25 will begin from April 1, 2024.

It's essential to note that schools have flexibility with their calendars, as long as they meet the required minimum number of school days: 188 days for the Ministry of Education (MoE) curriculum and 182 days for the international curriculum.

Deepika Thapar Singh, CEO-Principal of Credence High School, shared that their students will have a full two-week break from March 19 until March 29 for Ramadan, commencing the new academic session 2024-2025 on April 1.

Steven Lupton, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, emphasized that the break allows students to fully immerse themselves in the significance of the Holy month, participate in religious observances, and spend quality time with their families. The spring break, confirmed by ADEK, will include the Eid Al Fitr holiday for Repton Abu Dhabi students.

School heads also noted that most international curricula schools will conclude internal assessments for Term 2 before the start of Ramadan. External examinations for this academic year will begin at the end of April, with the IBDP testing window lasting about four weeks and A-Level and GCSE examinations happening in May and June.

According to the KHDA, private schools can only tentatively communicate public holidays, like Eid, to parents and confirm them once declared by the UAE government authority.

Sarah O’Regan, Principal/CEO of GEMS Wellington Academy - Silicon Oasis, mentioned changes to the KHDA calendar, stating that Monday, April 8, will now be a 'Professional Development Day' for staff only. Confirmation of the remaining week being Eid al Fitr is dependent on the official Moon Sighting Committee, and communication with parents will follow accordingly. Internal exams for Year 11 and 13 students have already taken place, and other internal assessments are ongoing, planned to avoid any impact from upcoming holidays.

#breakingnews #worldnews #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #SchoolBreak #RamadanHolidays #EidAlFitr #DubaiSchools #AcademicCalendar #SpringBreak #EducationInDubai #StudentLife #UAEHolidays