DUBAI - Parents and students voiced their concerns on Wednesday over reports of a possible change in the date of reopening of schools after the summer holidays.
The recent reports of the Ministry of Education (MOE) considering reopening of the schools after the holy month of Ramadan has disconcerted pupils and families, who say they had already made plans for the summer.
Diana Laurie, a parent, said she hoped the ministry would go by its original date of reopening, - that is, in the end of August. "People have made plans and booked flights much in advance. We have had Ramadan every year and it always coincides with the school days. Why should it be different this year?" she asked.
Laurie added that if the ministry was planning such a move, it should have been announced much in advance. "Besides planning this earlier, ministry officials should consult parents and schools on the opening dates since we have so many different curricula-based schools operating in Dubai," she said.
Muriel Landais, a parent, also observed that if the decision had been taken earlier, it would have made it easier for parents. "If the ministry actually postpones the reopening date, many will come back from their vacation only to realise that they still have another month of holidays. It would have been alright if this had been planned a few months earlier. Students may end up working in their winter vacation or next July, which would be very hot for children, to make up for the lost time," she said adding that may be this year, the ministry could give the schools some flexibility on deciding on their reopening dates.
Marlon Fernando, another parent, also said schools should be given the choice of deciding on their dates of reopening. "Since it is too late to notify every parent in a school, the decision of when to reopen should rest with the school. It is of course better to start after Ramadan since many pupils would be fasting," said the father.
Welcoming the idea, Anne Dickens (name changed), a teacher and a parent, noted that it would be fantastic if schools reopened after Ramadan. "It can be very tiring for children, who are fasting, to come to the schools during the period. Some schools, which have a long winter vacation in December, can cut it short to make up for the lost time. As teachers, we do what we can and we could find a way to work around it if the ministry asks us to stay closed," she added.