Schools across the country are set to follow the UAE’s transition to a four-and-a-half-day working week for government employees, with Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday forming the new weekend.
A tweet from Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority confirmed: “The private education sector in Dubai will be open in line with the recent UAE Government decision on the working week. We’ll be working closely with our community to ensure a smooth transition.”
As per the announcement, Monday to Thursday for public sector staff will comprise an eight-hour working day from 7.30am to 3.30pm. Friday sermons and prayers will be held at 1.15pm throughout the year.
“Taaleem supports the federal announcement to change the weekend; we understand and applaud the rationale behind the government announcement. We will await further guidance from ADEK and KHDA as our private school regulators before a formal announcement to our school communities, but fully endorse the positive changes to the working week,” said Alan Williamson, CEO of education providers Taaleem.
“We see the huge benefits in terms of staff, student, and parent wellbeing in having a four-and-a-half-day flexible working week. Wellbeing is at the heart of the nation and our schools, as we were founded as a values-based organisation,” he continued.
“There are certainly curriculum implications across our UK, IB and American schools. We hope that the KHDA and ADEK will allow us flexibility to deliver our education programmes – Monday through Thursday in relation to school timings. It will also be most important for us to ensure our schools promptly finish on Friday to allow our respected Islamic community to be prepared for prayer commencing at 1.15pm,” said Williamson.
All federal government departments will move to the new weekend from January 1, 2022.
“GEMS Education has noted this important news about the working week changes in the UAE and will, as ever, fully comply with the nation’s leadership guidance in all our schools,” said a representative of the UAE-based international school group in a statement to Arabian Business.
UAE’s schools are encompassed within the decree and the Ministry of Education will be announcing the new hours and weekend shortly, according to a statement by the UAE Government Media Office.
“Government employees who are parents will need schools to be open on Fridays. We understand from announcements made that schools will be impacted by the change and the Ministry of Education will make an announcement soon,” said partner and head of employment at Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla, Joanna Matthews-Taylor.
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