Compiled by Nathalie Farah, Community Journalist
Ramadan is a month for fasting, praying, togetherness and spirituality. For Muslims around the world, this month brings with it experiences they savour for the rest of the year. But with the summer heat, children need special attention. A debate has been raging across the UAE that schools should reopen after Ramadan to help children cope better with fasting while the mercury spirals but the official decision has been to the contrary, as this raises the question of covering syllabi and meeting exam schedules. What is your view on the matter?
Schools should re-open only after Ramadan.
When youngsters are taught the values of Ramadan, they learn not to use fasting as an excuse for not doing well. They discover the mind's ability to control the body, which will teach them to do well no matter what. They will also not feel as pressured at school because the school will have enough time to complete the curriculum, too, instead of being one month short.
– Shahul Hamed Kabeer
Dubai
While this would encourage children to fast at an early age, children have a natural tendency to dehydrate so they could fall sick when they fast in this weather. To avoid this, schools should re-open after Ramadan. To make sure that pupils don't fall behind, they could post work sheets for them to follow on their website or provide them with the material to work on at from home.
– Dr Sumitha Jerald
Dubai
Because some pupils fast during Ramadan, they might know how to fast without it affecting them. But at the same time, there are those who might feel dizzy or unwell when they go to school while fasting. So it might be better if schools open after Ramadan so that pupils would be able to concentrate and their academic performance won't be as affected as when they are fasting and studying.
– Vanessa Avila
Abu Dhabi
Many Gulf countries wait to reopen schools until after summer is over because the heat might affect pupils. Since people might face some health problems when they fast, it would be better for pupils if schools open after a month, when Ramadan ends. They can then compensate for the time that is lost by extending the academic year. That way, there isn't any pressure to finish the material in less time.
– Maher Al Khateeb
Abu Dhabi
Delayed opening will impact syllabus coverage.
Even if pupils who fast during Ramadan cannot concentrate properly, schools should not delay re-opening as it would cause pressure for everyone later on. Teachers plan what to teach and how to teach it at the beginning of each academic year so if there were a delay, there would be less time to cover the material. That would put teachers and pupils under a lot of stress.
– Sylesh Kumar
Ajman
It might be better if schools open after Ramadan because it would be better for fasting pupils to stay home instead of being stressed from both fasting and their studies. This might impact the schedule but at the same time schools could find a way to make up for the time that was lost without putting pressure on the pupils or teachers.
– Jacqueline Arzaga
Dubai
It would have an impact because schools would have to condense the material to make up for the time that was lost. I always fast during Ramadan, even when I was a pupil at school and it hasn't affected my concentration or my health. If schools open later it would most likely stress pupils out more than if they attended classes during Ramadan.
– Mohammad Adiab
Abu Dhabi
I don't think that opening after Ramadan would have a big impact because if schools were planning to close, then they would have found a way to compensate for the days that were missed. Also, if they open during Ramadan, pupils who fast might not do as well academically compared to after, because they wouldn't have as much energy to concentrate on their studies.
– Sheryl Gulapa
Abu Dhabi
Educational institutions should re-open before Ramadan only for pupils in secondary school.
It would be better for pupils who are planning on fasting during Ramadan because they could cover the material beforehand so they won't be as affected academically. That way they could miss school during Ramadan without worrying that they are falling behind. Also, they could stay close to their families during this month and continue their studies regularly after Eid.
– Mohammad Ebrahim Mohammad Yousuf
Abu Dhabi
Schools could try to offer pupils in secondary school, who want to fast, the chance to attend earlier so that they could cover the material in a proper manner before Ramadan starts. Other pupils who are not fasting or who are from younger grades can start the school year regularly. That way, no one will be stressed that there is less time to learn the material.
– Celeste Rafols
Dubai
They should open one month earlier only for pupils who want to fast. That way, if they want to stay home during Ramadan then they wouldn't be stressed about missing the material and catching up with their classmates. Other pupils could start the school year regularly and after Eid the class could continue covering the material in time to finish the academic year without any delays.
– Christian Kagaoan
Abu Dhabi
Pupils who study in secondary school have more pressure than younger pupils, so it would be better if they come one month earlier and then are given a month off for Ramadan. That way, pupils who fast won't be under a lot of stress to find a balance between fasting and studying.
– Zulekha Mohammad
Dubai
Schools should look at starting later in the day during Ramadan.
Schools should start earlier in the day instead of later because then the school day would be shorter, which would be easier for pupils instead of starting later and then having to stay until it's time for iftaar. That gives everyone more time to prepare for the rest of the day and for iftaar, instead of having to prepare everything at the last minute.
– Jason Burqawi
Abu Dhabi
When pupils fast, their concentration levels aren't as high as before they started fasting so it would be better if schools open later on in the day instead of keeping their regular schedules. That way, not only would the pupils not feel as stressed, but it would also help them last until it's time for iftaar.
– Syed Qaner Abbas
Dubai
It's better for schools to start late during Ramadan so that pupils can relax and follow their courses without feeling stressed. That would make everyone feel better, especially for pupils in primary school. This option not only suits pupils, but teachers as well. By maintaining a strict schedule, teachers would be able to complete their syllabus as per the schedule so they wouldn't have to worry about lagging behind later.
– Suganya Shaji
Abu Dhabi
It would be better if classes started later in the day because Ramadan is a hectic time for everyone. Pupils become stressed because they have to try to find a balance between their studies and their family gatherings at iftaar. If schools allow them to arrive later, then they would be able to concentrate more compared to attending classes early in the morning.
– Naim Rahman
Sharjah