Summer vacation for schools in Qatar may be advanced next year, with the Supreme Education Council (SEC) hinting that Ramadan will fall within the holidays over the next three years. The summer holidays may begin at least 10 days earlier next year given that Ramadan gets advanced by the same number of days every year, based on the lunar calendar. This means that in 2016, the holidays may begin in the first week of June, earlier by about 20 days compared with the current schedule. In a statement yesterday on its website explaining the academic calendar in Qatar, the SEC said that in the next three years, Ramadan will be part of the summer holidays. After that, it will fall within the regular school days. This schedule would apply not only to Independent schools but also to private schools, since the SEC has unified the summer holidays of all schools in the country. This year the holidays begin on June 26 and the schools will reopen on September 7. The academic year in Qatar begins in September. For several years, summer holidays here start by the end of June or early July and this is going to change over the next three years. The schools may return to the normal schedule by 2018. Several Asian schools that begin their academic year in April will be affected if they are asked to follow the changed schedule. However, details of the holiday schedules are not yet known. The SEC said that the academic calendar is prepared taking several aspects into consideration, like Eid and Ramadan holidays and the national holidays, Teachers of Independent school have been given a 70-day holiday during summer and 15 days during winter while non-teaching staff are getting a maximum of 45 days of leave. Reacting to the SEC statement, several citizens have called to remove the irregularities in the academic calendar and divide it into two equal semesters, with 90 days each. Currently, the first term is longer with 106 days while the second term comprises only 73 days, said a commentator. They also suggested that the academic calendar in Qatar be unified in keeping with the system followed by other GCC countries. Although the academic calendar is now unified, schools are following different working hours. Duration of the classes also vary from one independent school to another. This also has to be unified, said another person. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/241610-summer-break-for-schools-may-change-.html

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