School hours during Ramadan: Attendance and exam schedules and the Ministry's plan
Public schools across Saudi Arabia witnessed a remarkable turnout of students at all levels on the first day of Ramadan. Al-Youm newspaper observed students arriving at their respective public, private, and international schools, as well as special education institutes and programs, amidst a positive and serious atmosphere. This reflects a societal awareness of the importance of academic achievement and the need to avoid associating the holy month with idleness or absenteeism.
A ministerial plan to regulate the educational process
In order to organize the work, the Ministry of Education directed its departments in various regions to implement a well-defined procedural plan aimed at regulating studies throughout the holy month of Ramadan in 1447 AH. This plan is of particular importance given the limited time available, as the actual school days were set at only 11 days. This period includes the first-term exams, necessitating the optimal use of every minute of class time to ensure the continuity of learning outcomes and prevent any negative impact from the reduced school hours.
Flexible working hours in the regions
Taking into account the fasting conditions and the difference in geographical time zones, the education departments have adopted flexible attendance times, the details of which are as follows:
- Riyadh, Mecca and Al-Baha: The school day starts at nine o'clock in the morning.
- Eastern Province, Tabuk and Al-Jawf: Working hours start at 9:30 AM.
- Al-Qassim region: The first session is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.
- Continuing education: In most areas, classes begin between 9:00 and 9:30 PM.
Overlap of national holidays and exams
A notable feature of this month's academic calendar is the overlap between national holidays and the academic schedule. The short school year includes an official holiday for "Foundation Day," which falls on the fifth Sunday of Ramadan. This period offers a welcome opportunity to recharge before resuming the academic year. Immediately following this holiday, the first-term written and formative exams will begin in several schools, continuing until the end of the school day on Thursday, the sixteenth of Ramadan. This will be followed by the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which extends until the ninth of Shawwal.
Modern educational and psychological strategies
The ministry did not stop at adjusting class schedules; it also emphasized in its directives to teachers the necessity of employing "active learning" strategies. This step aims to break the monotony within the classroom and take into account the physiological changes students experience while fasting, as classroom interaction helps to combat drowsiness and increase focus. The plan also placed significant emphasis on the role of student counselors in providing psychological support and addressing absenteeism, stressing that discipline during Ramadan is the true measure of the educational system's effectiveness.
partnership with the family
In concluding its directives, the Ministry of Education called on parents to activate a genuine partnership with schools by helping their children organize their sleep and study times, and providing a suitable healthy and psychological environment to ensure that this intensive study period is passed successfully and with distinction.
