Abu Dhabi announces reduced timings for private schools during Ramadan

Private schools in Abu Dhabi will have reduced hours for students during the holy month of Ramadan, the emirate’s Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) revealed on Sunday.

Schools will stay open from 8am – 8.30am until 1.30pm- 2pm, excluding KG, ADEK said in a circular issued to schools.

KG classes may finish at 12.30pm depending on the discretion of the school.

Schools also must provide private areas for non-fasting students, ADEK said.

“We urge all private schools in the emirate to abide by these timings,” the authority said on Twitter.

Read: Ramadan timings announced for the UAE’s private sector

The Department of Education in Knowledge has issues a circular to private schools in the Emirat of Abu Dhabi regarding school timings during the holy month of Ramadan. We urge all private schools in the Emirate to abide by these timings.

— التعليم والمعرفة (@ADEK_tweet) May 5, 2019

The holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on Monday, May 6 in the UAE. The official start will be confirmed by the moon-sighting committee, which meets on Sunday evening.

Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) also announced reduced school hours in the emirate for Ramadan last week.

The school day during Ramadan will start between 8am and 8.30am and finish between 1pm to 1.30pm — with shorter breaks as required.

“Schools should ensure that the total hours at school per day for students do not exceed five hours,” said Mohammed Darwish, CEO of Permits and Compliance at KHDA.

“Fasting students should be exempt from physical education (PE) classes and any other demanding physical activities without influencing their grades and overall academic performance. All students must be protected from the risks of exhaustion and dehydration,” he added.