UAE announces reduced timings for school students during Ramadan

The UAE’s Ministry of Education has announced that students across the country will have reduced e-learning hours during the month of Ramadan.

The duration of the classes has been cut to 30 minutes for all students and the number of classes per week has also been reduced.

Schools across the country switched to a distance learning programme last month as part of precautionary measures against the Covid-19 virus.

On March 30, it was announced that the programme would be extended until the end of the current academic year.

وزارة التربية والتعليم، تعتمد خطة دراسية، مخففة، تماشيا مع شهر رمضان المبارك، ومراعاةً لوضع الطلبة وأولياء أمورهم، إذ بموجبها تم تقليل مدة الحصة الدراسية إلى 30 دقيقة وتخفيض أعداد الحصص الدراسية أسبوعيا . pic.twitter.com/RsLqE94Qx7

— وزارة التربية (@MOEducationUAE) April 19, 2020

During Ramadan, for the younger students from kindergarden until grade 4, the ministry said it approved the start of a late school day to ensure the necessary support from their parents. The first session will begin at 1.45pm and the third and last session will end at about 3.30pm. They will have 15 classes per week.

أما بالنسبة إلى الحلقة الأولى، أقرت الوزارة، بدء اليوم الدراسي متأخراً مراعاةً لأولياء الأمور ولضمان توفر الدعم اللازم من ولي الأمر للطلبة حيث تبدأ الحصة الأولى في تمام الساعة 1:45 دقيقة ظهراً، وتنتهي الحصة الثالثة والأخيرة في حوالي الساعة 3:30 ظهراً. pic.twitter.com/vKIgwGzbKK

— وزارة التربية (@MOEducationUAE) April 19, 2020

Meanwhile for the school day for the students in grades 5-12 will begin at 11am and end at between 1.30pm – 2.05pm. They will have between 17-22 classes per week.

وفقا للخطة، قامت الوزارة بتعديل مواقيت اليوم الدراسي، لتكون أكثر ملاءمة، حيث يبدأ اليوم الدراسي للحلقتين الثانية والثالثة في تمام الساعة 11 صباحاً pic.twitter.com/3LpTUKpwoW

— وزارة التربية (@MOEducationUAE) April 19, 2020

Also read: How is Covid-19 changing the UAE’s educational landscape?

The holy month of Ramadan is likely to begin on Friday, April 24, an astronomer in the UAE has predicted.

Read: Ramadan likely to begin on April 24, Eid dates forecast

Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, is a time when Muslims across the world fast from sunrise to sunset.

Fasting is expected to last for less than 15 hours this year in the UAE.

The UAE has already announced reduced working hours for public sector workers in the country.

Read: UAE announces working hours for Ramadan 2020

The moon-sighting committee will confirm the official starting dates for Ramadan and Eid.