Government rejects Ramadan school break for last 10 days

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

No holiday for Ramadan’s last 10 days as the government says the 180- day legal minimum and fixed exam dates leave no room to cut lessons.

In a written reply to Parliament, the government said the school year is set by Law No. 27 of 2005 on Education, which requires at least 180 teaching days in the basic and secondary stages.

Lesson times are already reshaped during Ramadan to balance study with the demands of the month.

Each year, a specialist committee draws up the academic calendar, exam dates and official holidays after detailed studies.

Plan

The plan aims to complete the syllabus without trimming content or approved standards and to secure enough classroom hours for pupils to meet set learning goals.

Granting a blanket break for the last 10 days of Ramadan would cut actual teaching days, risk weaker attainment and force changes to curricula, study plans and assessment dates that are fixed to precise timetables.

Disruption would be sharpest as final exams near.

Constraints

Public higher-education institutions would face similar constraints, the reply said, with any lost time threatening the completion of modules against accreditation and quality rules and, in turn, the intended learning outcomes.

University timetables are tied to defined academic requirements that track international practice.

The reply said the intent of the proposal is already met through adjusted lesson times in Ramadan.

Interests

The government added that it remains keen to work with Parliament while keeping pupils’ interests and education quality to the fore.

In March, MPs Hassan Bukhammas, Munir Seroor, Mohammed Al Ahmed, Ahmed Qarata and Mohammed Al Olaiwi lodged an urgent recommendation seeking a holiday over the last 10 days of Ramadan for students in schools, institutes and universities.

They said the period includes Laylat al-Qadr and that time away from classes would allow worship and ease study pressure amid busier religious and social activity.