RIYADH — Students in schools across Saudi Arabia will go to their classes on Sunday as the second semester of the current academic year commences after a nine-day break. The Ministry of Education revealed that the total number of actual school days in the second semester will be 92 across all regions of Saudi Arabia, with the exception of regions subject to special arrangements stipulated in the school calendar. These regions will have 19 weeks of study, taking into account the spiritual significance of Ramadan by reducing the number of school days. The second semester will continue until Thursday, Muharram 10, 1448 AH. The ministry has approved only 11 school days during Ramadan in consideration of the nature of fasting and religious observances. The Ministry revealed that the semester schedule includes three different breaks totaling 28 days. The academic calendar for the second semester includes four official holidays: the first is on the fifth of Ramadan, corresponding to Feb. 22, which is the Founder's Day holiday; the second is the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which begins at the end of the school day on Thursday, Ramadan 17; the third is the Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins at the end of the school day on Thursday, the fourth of Dhu al-Hijjah, and lasts for ten days, except for the education departments in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif, where the Eid al-Adha holiday will begin at the end of the school day on Thursday, Dhul Qadah 27. The summer vacation will begin at the end of the school day on Thursday, Muharram 10, 1448 AH, while the summer vacation for the four exempted departments will begin at the end of the school day on Muharram 17, 1448AH.
