Private schools in Abu Dhabi have decided to reduce the duration of their school timings to four hours during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) issued a circular to schools in the Emirate, notifying them that class hours would be from 10 am to 2 pm throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The new school timings will go into effect after students return from spring break, which is scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 8.

As schools resume studies from April 11, the Ramadan timings will immediately go into effect and continue until Eid Al-Fitr.

Depending on the sighting of the moon, the Holy Month of Ramadan is expected to start from April 12 (Monday) or April 13 (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, schools have been asked to inform students that the hybrid model of learning, which consists of both distance learning and in-person classes, will continue in the third semester.

Speaking about the development, Neeraj Bargava, Principal of Abu Dhabi Indian School, noted that the school would function from 9.30 am until 3.30 pm. However, students' classes would take place from 10 am to 2 pm, in accordance with the directives issued by the education authorities.

He added that the authorities have given an allowance of one hour before and after the classes start to all schools, such that students and teachers would be able to maintain social distancing and follow other COVID-19 protocols to curb the spread of the virus.

Schools in Abu Dhabi have also given parents the option to shift from hybrid education to e-learning for students during the third semester. At the same time, they can opt for a complete remote learning system for their wards throughout the Holy Month.

Parents willing to change the education model for their wards in the upcoming semester have been asked to inform the class teacher or send an e-mail to the school during the spring break, such they the school can make necessary arrangements for the same.