Ramadan 2021: UAE school day reduced to five hours

Schools in Abu Dhabi cannot start the day before 9.30am and must finish by 3.30pm

Dubai schools will end all distance learning on October 3 - ensuring pupils will return to classrooms across the city. Shruti Jain / The National

At the end of the summer term 2021, just 52% of pupils were in classrooms, with the remainder studying from home. Victor Besa / The National

This autumn term, no pupils are required to be vaccinated to return to school and no regular testing is mandatory, the city's education regulator KHDA said. Victor Besa / The National

Under the new KDHA rules for the autumn term of 2021, social distancing of one metre is recommended, but not mandated. Shruti Jain / The National

Eligible school staff who do not wish to have the vaccine must submit a negative PCR test each week, said the KHDA. Victor Besa / The National

Officials said 96% of Dubai's private school teachers were now vaccinated, and that 70% of children aged 12 to 17 had received coronavirus shots. Pawan Singh / The National

After-hours extra-curricular classes can now restart. Pawan Singh / The National

Swimming and sports classes can restart. Pawan Singh / The National

School trips, excursions and camps will now be allowed. Courtesy: GEMS

Private schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai will reduce school hours during the month of Ramadan.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai's private education regulator, said private schools would have to cut their school day to five hours from the usual seven.

Private schools in Abu Dhabi would also have their school hours reduced to five.

Abu Dhabi private schools cannot start the day before 9:30am and must end by 3:30pm.

Private schools in the emirate have received Ramadan timing guidelines from the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (Adek).

"Each school is expected to cover the full content of the core subjects during those hours, and to consult with parents while selecting the appropriate schedule," Adek said.

Mohammed Darwish, chief executive officer of permits and compliance at KHDA, said schools could choose what times they start and end after consulting with their parent communities.

“During Ramadan, the whole school community – including pupils, teachers and parents – will be spending extra time in prayer with their families," Mr Darwish said.

"We ask schools to be mindful of this with regards to the amount of homework and assignments set for pupils.

"Every Ramadan, we practice the virtues of patience, togetherness, compassion and inner strength, and this year we will need to draw on these virtues more than ever.”

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