Resumption of studies and the absence of extended holidays
The Saudi Ministry of Education confirmed that the remaining twelve weeks of the current academic year will not include any extended holidays. More than six million students resumed their studies on Sunday, a move aimed at ensuring the smooth and continuous continuation of their education until the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday. The official academic calendar indicates that the upcoming period requires intensive focus on the curriculum without interruptions, thus enhancing the quality of educational outcomes.
General context: The three-semester system and the academic calendar
This scheduling is part of the overall framework for educational development in the Kingdom, where the Ministry of Education has adopted a three-semester system in recent years. This landmark system, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, aims to increase the number of actual learning days and bring them closer to global standards. Extended breaks (long weekends) were introduced to break the monotony and revitalize students during the long semesters. As the academic year draws to a close, these breaks have been temporarily suspended to ensure complete focus on completing the curriculum and conducting thorough review before the final exams.
Upcoming school holidays and Eid al-Adha
The Ministry clarified that the upcoming school closure will coincide exclusively with the Eid al-Adha holiday. This holiday will officially begin on the 5th of Dhul-Hijjah, 1447 AH. Field reports and the approved academic calendar indicate that the Eid holiday will last for ten consecutive days, with students returning to their classrooms on the 15th of the same month to complete final assessments and exams that determine their academic achievement.
End of the current academic year and the beginning of the new year
The approved academic calendar indicates that the end of the current academic year will be officially announced by the 10th of Muharram, 1448 AH. As part of the Ministry's early planning approach, the new academic year will begin on 10/3/1448 AH. This timeframe provides families and educational staff with ample opportunity to organize, travel, and prepare enthusiastically for the new year.
School preparedness and the local impact of the event
Domestically, the resumption of the educational process is a significant event impacting broad sectors across the Kingdom. More than 500,000 teachers have begun their duties in approximately 32,000 schools. The Ministry of Education has completed all operational, technical, and administrative preparations, from preparing school buildings and classrooms to activating smart classrooms and modern learning environments. These technologies directly contribute to supporting an interactive learning environment and developing students' creativity and innovation skills.
The role of the family and integration with government agencies
The Ministry of Education is working in close coordination with security and service agencies to ensure students' safe arrival at their schools. In addition, student guidance and counseling programs have been activated to help students regain their mental readiness after the recent holidays. The Ministry consistently emphasizes the crucial role of families in monitoring their children's discipline and adherence to school schedules, as the collaboration between home and school is fundamental to maintaining academic performance and successfully completing final exams.
