No change in India, Pakistan school academic calendar: Dubai education ministry

Dubai, Apr 25 (ANI): Indian and Pakistani schools will not be affected by the unified holidays for schools recently announced by the Ministry of Education, said a senior official.

Schools from both countries will continue to follow the same calendar they have been following for years, with schools starting in April and ending in March the following year, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) said.

The clarification comes after the recent announcement of a unified academic calendar for all public and private schools by the Ministry of Education, which has been a cause of confusion both for parents and for schools.

Mohammad Darwish, Chief of Regulations and Compliance Commission at the KHDA said the decision was reached following consultations between different parties concerned, including schools.

Ashok Kumar, CEO of the Indian High School Dubai said, "being in the country we have to respect their laws, but at the same time we try to strike a balance with the parent board (Central Board of Secondary Education) that we are attached to. We are very happy that the KHDA has agreed to let us continue with the old calendar."

Parents have also expressed their delight. "I'm happy now that we will be able continue with our plans," said Sanjana Sharma, whose two children go to different Indian schools.

However, confusion remains over the academic calendar for foreign universities, which are attached to their parent campuses, as well as for Bangladeshi schools, which follow the January to December calendar. (ANI)