UAE National Day: Students to have only 3 school days before 4-week winter holiday
Students across the UAE will only have three days in the classroom after a long break for the 54th Eid Al Etihad this year – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – before the mid-year break officially begins.
Schools have mixed views as to whether they will see full attendance after the long weekend, with some expecting to see most students as exams are lined up, while others anticipate low numbers as families travel or relax in holiday mode.
The Ministry of Education had earlier announced that public and private schools will be closed for Eid Al Etihad on Monday and Tuesday to create a long weekend before the winter break commences in mid-December.
“Although it’s a very short period, our students will most likely comply with attendance, especially on Thursday, because they have the national education exam,” said Bashair Private School Principal Sawsan Tarabishy. “We follow the ministry’s curriculum and exam schedule and the exam was set for the day after the holiday, so students are obliged to attend.”
The school has organised revision classes on Wednesday, to support the exam that is scheduled for Thursday.
“Attendance is tightly linked to the ministry. Attendance is mandatory and we are required to report any absences,” she added.
Tarabishy said the school would be celebrating Eid Al Ittihad this week, while students will be going into full exam mode next week.
‘I expect only half the turnout’
On the other hand, some other teachers predict a much more quiet return. Ehab Mohamed, who heads the curriculum department and is responsible for private school top-scoring Grade 11 and 12 students, explained the return to school during this time of the year made academic productivity a slim chance.
“I do not expect the three school days between the two holidays to be productive, based on my experience, because the students would have completed their exams before Eid Al Etihad, so they will not come back ready to study when they come back for two or three days only,” he said.
“Also, some families might have big plans for the winter break, so I will not be surprised to see half the turnout.”
He added that though schools usually implement non-routine activities or project-based work during such times to give students a reason to come back to school, this may not be the case this year. “We usually would have introduced some activities or projects that will add to their grades. But I do not think that will be possible this time, because the term will already be over. In any case, attendance is important to gain life and practical skills and the learning never stops. We will do our best to create an incentive for students and parents to attend these activities.”
Learning discipline
Even parents are questioning the benefit of returning to school for three days. Rawan Fawaz, a mother of three children in Grades 12, 10 and 5, sees the gap as adding little value to the academic year — but says her children will be present in class anyway.
“I don’t see the point in going back to school for only three days; however, I would not let my children miss class,” she said. “Even now, during the end of term exams, they are allowed to go home to study after sitting the exam, but I make them stay and review in school — it is better for them to learn discipline and the concept of working hours from now.”
The school is also giving students an incentive to attend. “They saved the detailed report card and make-up opportunities, like projects or assignments for extra credit, that they can do during those three days,” she said.
Balancing academic schedules and holiday plans
The school return gap is a window during which time the majority of schools have either finished exams or are about to sit them. The students following the ministerial curriculums have nearly all just mandatory attendance rules to contend with, whilst some private and international schools are extending and changing their academic calendar to make the days more purposeful.
As families balance the last few weeks of the school term with winter travel considerations, schools are now planning activities, revision and exam sessions to keep students occupied and learning during the brief mid-week return.
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