Schools will open for just one week during Ramadan next year, according to the academic calendar released by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
The new calendar outlines school days, holidays and key dates for the upcoming academic year.
After a month‑long break, students are scheduled to return to school next Tuesday. Classes will then run for 14 days before Ramadan begins on the 18th of next month.
During Ramadan, schools will operate only from the 22nd to the 26th, a single week of classes. This will be followed by teachers’ professional development (PD) days from March 1 to 8.
The final ten days of Ramadan fall from March 9 to 19, during which schools will remain closed. With public holidays extending to March 23, students will receive a total of 26 days off during the month.
Debate over whether schools should remain open during Ramadan resurfaces every year. Some support easing the academic load to allow more time for worship, while others argue that fasting is meant to be practiced alongside daily responsibilities, encouraging discipline, calmness and kindness across all aspects of life.