Yes, apparently so, meaning the kids get a shocking 13 WEEKS summer holiday - not to mention the lucky teachers...

More info here www.gulfnews.com/nation/Education/10327686.html

I don't have kids so this doesn't affect me but isn't this a nightmare for parents? What about childcare? 

ANNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!

As it is the school summer holidays are already too long. 13 weeks?? Someone is obviously having a laugh, and it's not the parents. I am a working parent so can't swan off to cooler climes for three months, which means my daughter is stuck here in the sweltering heat with little to amuse her. At least we have a fantastic nanny but I pity those parents who don't have reliable childcare.

I suppose that I am lucky that my biggest concern is that my little darling will be bored - spare a thought for older kids who have to work their way through set curriculums in order to be able to complete their exams - three weeks is a lot of time to lose.

I'm all for respecting Ramadan, and I admire those that fast during this period, but surely it should not affect the education of our children???? What's next - give all nurses and doctors the month off? And labourers and policemen too? In fact, why don't we just shut down everything for Ramadan - why should teachers and pupils get special treatment? Let's all have a month off, to support those who are fasting.

And don't even get me started on the school fees - we pay through the nose for private school here, so it's pretty frustrating when they close the schools at the slightest thing - Ramadan, someone dies, it's raining, etc.

Not to mention the effect this will have on businesses in the city: get expat families to spend an additional 3 weeks out of Dubai, rather than back here, spending money and fuelling business. Good thinking, Ministry of Education.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

For those of you without children, or businesses, at least you can look forward to fewer expat brats getting in your way, and less traffic until the third week in September.

Is this all schools, even those that follow the English cirriculam?

Obviously, since Ramadan has already started, most of us probably know the answers to these questions by now.  But I (a teacher in an international school) was told that this was later clarified to be only for national/government schools.  As for private schools they will probably decide based on their student body and what schedule the parents want.  My school starts up the new year on Monday.

Yes, it seems sense has prevailed, and despite threats of Ramadan and Swine Flu, most international schools will open as planned for the new academic year. My daughter starts back at school on Wednesday - not a day too soon, believe me!!

Goodbye summer - please don't hurry back next year