Doha: Following request from parents and schools, Ministry of Education and Higher Education has given its approval to Indian Schools in the country to modify their calendar, allowing for shorter summer break and extending their winter break in December.

Birla Public School, MES Indian School, Ideal Indian School and Rajagiri Public School have already sent circulars to parents to this effect.

The schools have extended their remote learning sessions till July 29, cutting short summer holidays that were originally supposed to start from third week of June extending to last week of August.

As per the revised schedule summer vacations will start from July 30 to August 31 after which the students rejoin school on September 1. The winter vacation which usually is a 10-day break in most schools in the last week of December will now begin from December 3 and end on January 2, 2021, reopening on Janaury 3.

“It may be noted that the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has approved to extend the remote learning until July 30th as majority number of parents had recommended the same due to non-operation of flights and present pandemic situations,” stated the MES circular.

Few of the Indian schools in the country like Birla Public School, Rajagiri Public School and Olive International had conducted a survey asking parents to state their preferences. Many had opted for a shorter summer break as families were unable to travel to their home country due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place.