The Saudi Ministry of Education has begun implementing the final stages of the academic calendar for the current year, with students starting the first of their five remaining breaks at the end of the school day tomorrow, Thursday – the mid-year break. This schedule is part of an educational strategy aimed at enhancing academic achievement and providing balanced periods of rest.
Details of the remaining holidays in the academic year
The approved academic calendar reveals that the current academic year still includes five key breaks, carefully designed to break the academic stagnation and revitalize students. This series begins with the mid-year break, which runs from the 20th to the 28th of Rajab, serving as a much-needed respite before the resumption of the educational journey.
The scheduled list includes the following holidays:
- Mid-year break: from 20 to 28 Rajab.
- Founding Day: It coincides with the 5th of Ramadan (an exceptional event due to its coincidence with the holy month).
- Eid al-Fitr holiday: It begins on the 17th of Ramadan and continues until the 9th of Shawwal.
- Eid al-Adha holiday: from 5 to 15 Dhu al-Hijjah.
- End of school year holiday: begins on 10 Muharram 1448 AH.
An exceptional event: The founding during Ramadan
This year's academic calendar features a rare coincidence that lends it a unique spiritual and national significance, as the Saudi National Day holiday coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, specifically on the fifth day. This convergence offers students an opportunity to celebrate the roots and rich history of the Saudi state, alongside the spiritual atmosphere of the blessed month, thus reinforcing both national and Islamic values.
Strategic context and the impact of extended leave
This restructuring of the academic calendar comes within the context of the significant transformations taking place in the Kingdom's education sector. The Ministry aims, through the introduction of multiple short and long breaks, to alleviate the psychological and mental stress on students and teaching staff. Educational studies indicate that intermittent rest periods effectively contribute to improving comprehension and reducing burnout rates.
On the economic and social front, these holidays play a pivotal role in boosting domestic tourism, as Saudi families utilize these periods to travel between regions of the Kingdom or perform Umrah, especially since some holidays coincide with important religious seasons such as Ramadan and Dhul-Hijjah. The period between the Foundation Day holiday and the Eid al-Fitr holiday is a short but intensive academic period, requiring students to manage their time effectively to balance worship and studies.
Preparing for final exams
Following the end of the holiday season (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha), students enter the crucial stage of the academic year, as attention turns to the final exams and the academic harvest of a whole year, before the curtain falls on the academic year with the end-of-year holiday in the month of Muharram of the new Hijri year 1448 AH.
