The coming school year will not begin until after Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, at the end of September, according to a story in Gulf News today.
Education authorities announced that public schools will open on September 23.
Informed sources told Gulf News the decision to postpone the 2009-2010 school year, for public schools “has been taken.” This was later announced officially by WAM.
Ramadan is expected to begin on August 21 or 22 this year. Eid will most probably be on September 20.
The decision was taken following “high level talks were held between the Cabinet and the Ministry of Education to study a proposal to postpone the school year that was discussed with educationists to highlight the benefits of postponing the school year until the end of Ramadan.”
“The majority of the education officials in the country supported the plan to start the year after the Eid holiday,” the sources said.
Gulf News has learnt that a government committee had also been formed to seek the opinions of education experts through an online survey.
“The results showed that officials, teachers and parents councils’ members all agreed that it was best to postpone the school year for the interest of pupils.” A request was then presented to the cabinet.
“Following a thorough study that took into account the impact of the month of Ramadan on students coupled with the high temperature and humidity on the ability of pupils, the government has decided to postpone the school year.”
Last week His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, posted a question on his Facebook page, asking whether the school year should begin after Eid.
His query received a massive response with the majority of parents and pupils saying it would be better to start the term after Eid.
In his post, Shaikh Mohammad thanked the respondents and said: “I appreciate these opinions and insights from such a wide diversity of people in our society.”
