Many students are eagerly anticipating a three-week break in March, coinciding with the Holy month of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid Al Fitr holidays. During this period, institutions will be closed for either the spring or end-of-term break.
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. Private schools in Dubai, starting their academic year in September, will observe a break from Monday, March 25, to Monday, April 15, 2024, as per information available on the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) website.
This extended holiday period, stretching for an extra week beyond the usual two-week break, is in anticipation of the Eid Al Fitr festival, which may fall on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, depending on the moon sighting. If confirmed, Dubai could potentially 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.
Certain school principals note that this break could extend to at least three weeks for specific year groups. For instance, Mohammedali Kottakulam, Principal of Gulf Indian High School Dubai, mentioned, “Our annual exams are scheduled to end by March 14, and the new academic year 2024-25 will begin from April 1, 2024.”
It’s important to note that schools have some flexibility with their calendars, provided 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, explained, “The last working day for our students of PreKG to Grade 8 is March 18, concluding with their final exams, while our grade 9 and 11 students will continue school till March 22 with their bridge classes for their next academic grade. Our younger children will enjoy a full two-week break from March 19 until March 29 for Ramadan and commence their new academic session 2024-2025 on April 1.”
Steven Lupton, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, emphasized that the break allows students to fully engage in the significance of the Holy month, participate in religious observances, and spend quality time with their families. He added, “ADEK has confirmed that the spring break will also include the Eid Al Fitr holiday.”
Most international curricula schools plan to conclude internal assessments for Term 2 before the start of Ramadan. Headteachers highlight the significance of creating an environment that respects and accommodates diverse religious practices.
External examinations for the academic year are expected to commence at the end of April, with the IBDP testing window lasting for about four weeks, and A-Level and GCSE examinations taking place in May and June. Internal exams for the final term will occur during May and June, well after the return from the long spring break.
Schools can tentatively communicate public holidays like Eid to parents, as per the KHDA, confirming them once declared by the UAE government authority. Principals, such as Sarah O’Regan from GEMS Wellington Academy – Silicon Oasis, note the importance of being dependent on the official Moon Sighting Committee for confirmation of holidays. She added, “The internal exams for our Year 11 and 13 students have already happened for this term – they took place in January for three weeks. Other internal assessments are ongoing in other year groups but have been planned in such a way so that they will not be affected by any upcoming holidays.”