Fujairah students say Ramadan fasting will affect grades

Eithar Al Bshrawi says adjusting her hours to study all night will help her to fully concentrate on her final exams. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

FUJAIRAH // High school pupils worry that they will have to sit exams during Ramadan.

Many pupils and parents fear that without food and drink, they will be unable to concentrate as normal and grades will suffer.

“My daughter had achieved high grades during the previous terms but I’m afraid she won’t be able to continue at the same pace while sitting her final exams during Ramadan,” said Umm Adnan, 39, a Syrian.

She said she went to the Fujairah Education Zone to object and convince them that it would affect pupils’ grades, but she was told exam times were the Ministry of Higher Education’s responsibility.

“Last year the exams started on June 15, but this year they start on June 21,” Umm Adnan said.

“They know that Ramadan will fall within this timeframe and they had the chance to make it earlier but they did nothing.”

Her daughter Dana said: “I have been studying for the final exams since almost a month ago. I know I’m fully prepared but I’m afraid I could lose concentration or even forget the information I have due to the lack of food and, most important, water.”

A spokesman from the Fujairah Education Zone said about 6,000 students would sit the high school final tests at public and private schools.

“We received several complaints regarding the schedule of the final exams and it has been sent to the Ministry of Higher Education,” he said. “We raised the issue but it’s the responsibility of the Ministry.”

Eithar Al Bshrawi, 17, a high school pupil from Saudi Arabia, said she planned to stay awake all night before the test.

“I like to study at night and because of the fasting I’m planning to sleep at daytime. In this case, I will not feel very hungry or thirsty and will concentrate more on my studies.”

Her mother, Muna Al Qassab, said pupils could achieve high scores despite fasting.

“They shouldn’t use fasting as an excuse for low grades,” said Ms Al Qassab, 50.

“If students arrange their time and study they shouldn’t have any problem before or during the exams.

“They are sitting under air-conditioning, eating healthy meals during iftar and suhoor – why they should complain?”

Doctors say pupils can keep a healthy body and a clear mind while preparing for and taking their final exams in Ramadan.Dr Pratap Bordawekar, head of emergency at Al Sharq Hospital, said that drinking enough water during non-fasting hours is crucial, helping pupils to be more focused. And dividing iftar into three to four small meals without too many sweets.

“Sweets dissolve in the blood very quickly and next day students become very hungry and thirsty,” Dr Bordawekar said.

“They should replace sweets with fruits and dates, which provide the body with the required sugar that will remain in the body. If the sugar levels are maintained properly this will help students to be more focused, enhance their memory and prevent headaches.”

He said that pupils should avoid food that is high in saturated fat and replace it with slow-release energy foods such as beans, brown bread or rice and nuts.