UAE's Ministry of Education reduces class time to 35 minutes during Ramadan

The Ministry of Education has finalised the school day schedule for the Holy Month of Ramadan in public and private schools adhering to the government curriculum for the 2025-2026 academic year.

As per the details released by school administrations, the Ministry of Education has shortened class duration to 35 minutes, incorporating two 10-minute breaks each day. For kindergarten, the schedule comprises three daily classes, spanning a total of three hours.

In the initial cycle, two distinct school schedules were implemented. The first schedule operates from 8:00AM to 12:00PM, spanning 4 hours and consisting of 6 periods.

The second schedule runs from 9:00AM to 1:00PM, also covering 4 hours with 6 periods.

Additionally, it was determined that Friday classes would be conducted remotely, running from 8:00AM to 9:55AM, with a total duration of 1 hour and 55 minutes divided into three periods.

For the boys' second and third cycles, classes are scheduled from Monday to Thursday between 8:00AM and 1:00PM, amounting to 5 hours and 7 periods.

On Fridays, lessons will be held remotely from 8:00AM to 10:15AM, lasting for 2 hours and 15 minutes across three periods.

The schedule for the second and third cycles runs Monday through Thursday, from 9:00AM to 2:00PM, totaling five hours across seven periods.

On Fridays, lessons will be conducted remotely between 9:00AM and 11:15AM, lasting two hours and 15 minutes and divided into three periods.

The Ministry of Education has announced that final school assessments (SSA) will take place following the first break. These assessments will be conducted for the same duration as the centralized exams, and students are required to remain at school throughout the entire day. Standard procedures for tracking attendance and handling absences will be enforced.

The Ministry of Education announced that administrative, technical, and teaching staff are to maintain their regular work schedules, selecting either the 8:00AM to 1:30PM or 9:00AM to 2:30PM time slots. This will be coordinated with the morning and afternoon duty rosters.

This decision reflects the Ministry of Education's dedication to ensuring uninterrupted education while fostering a supportive and comfortable learning environment for students during the holy month. School administrations are tasked with overseeing compliance with these schedules and monitoring the implementation of distance learning on Fridays.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has encouraged teachers to minimise homework, adopt interactive teaching methods, assist students effectively, and focus class time on preparing for final school assessments.