Parents of pupils in the UAE will enjoy a long weekend on Thursday as schools take a break for Eid Al Fitr - but most are yet to hear when lessons will resume next week.
Messages sent from schools confirmed that the last day of attendance would be Wednesday.
Parents are awaiting further guidance as to the date of return, as the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, and other education authorities are yet to confirm when it will be.
The date lessons resume will be based on when the Eid Al Fitr holiday falls, something yet to be announced.
Authorities said last week that Eid Al Fitr would run from Ramadan 29 — equivalent to April 20 — until Shawwal 3.
The UAE's Moon-sighting committee will decide the exact starting date of Eid as well as clarify whether Ramadan lasts for 29 or 30 days.
When could lessons resume?
If the duration of Ramadan is 30 days, pupils will enjoy a five-day break and schools will reopen on Tuesday, April 25.
However, if the holy month is 29 days, the Eid holiday will last four days and schools will resume on Monday.
Parents at Dubai's Sunmarke School were told that the reopening date depends on when Eid falls.
"If the first day of Eid is declared on Friday, the school will be closed from Thursday to Sunday and reopen on Monday," the message to parents said.
"If Eid falls on Saturday, the school will be closed from Thursday to Monday and reopen on Tuesday."
Parents said they would appreciate the extra time with their children after Ramadan.
Jineen Salim from Jordan, a mother of two daughters in grades two and six, said the potentially longer break would be welcome, especially as her daughters have been fasting.
“It would have been great if the break was extended to cover all of Ramadan, but it's fine, longer Eid holiday is also as good.”
She said she hasn't received notification as yet from her daughters’ school.
“They are certainly waiting for the announcement from authorities,” she said.
Jordanian Munawar Daoud, whose children attend grades eight and 10 at a private school in Dubai, agreed that an extra day of holiday was always a good thing.
“It means more time with the family for all of us and less time commuting for me,” she said.
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
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if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
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