Dubai schools told to abide by official Eid holiday dates

Mohammed Darwish, chief of regulations and permits commission at the KHDA, said it was 'business as usual' for all Dubai private schools” on Tuesday, which is not a holiday.

DUBAI // Education officials have reminded schools that classes are to continue as usual on Tuesday.

Mohammed Darwish, chief of regulations and permits commission at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, said it was “business as usual” for all Dubai private schools” on Tuesday, which is not a holiday.

Schools must close for the Eid Al Adha holiday, beginning on Wednesday. Classes will resume on Sunday.

The statement was made after media reports emerged last week that some schools had announced Tuesday as a holiday.

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Update: Abu Dhabi schools told to revise Eid Al Adha holiday dates

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The same is true for public schools in Abu Dhabi, where the Abu Dhabi Education Council also followed the holiday dates that were announced last week by the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.

Mr Darwish said that when the 2015-2016 academic year was being approved, “the Eid Al Adha and other holidays were not stipulated or marked on the calendar as these holidays could vary.

“In line with the Eid Al Adha announcement from the federal authority, schools are only off from September 23 to 26, and schools will resume on September 27. KHDA trusts all schools to abide by the guidelines.”

In Abu Dhabi, some private schools in the capital have altered their calendars to match the federal government’s dates, while others said they were sticking with their Adec-approved calendars set at the start of the academic year. The Raha International School was among those that had initially scheduled Tuesday as a holiday, but has since updated its calendar to reflect the official dates.

“There was a little confusion in some people’s minds. Originally calendars indicated that we might have Tuesday off, but now it’s Wednesday and Thursday,” said Clive Pierrepont, director of communications for Taaleem, which operates schools in both emirates. “Each year, there’s always a little asterisks on the dates that says ‘subject to confirmation’.”

The calendar for the British School of Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi had booked Tuesday off but, now, the school will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday with classes resuming on Sunday, according to the memo.

“The calendar is always subject to adjustment, particularly when it is referring to religious holidays,” headmaster Mark Leppard said in a memo to parents.

Gems Wellington Academy in Dubai will remain closed from Tuesday until Saturday, while all other Gems schools are closed between Wednesday and Saturday.

Aldar Academies confirmed its schools would also close on Wednesday and reopen on Sunday.

This article has been updated to reflect the correct Eid holidays for the British School of Al Khubairat.