Daily Times

Sir: The recent change in summer holidays to accommodate the holy month of Ramazan is being resisted by schools that follow the Cambridge system (O level). My children are enrolled in such a school. The holidays in our school will remain the same (June/July) and the school will reopen on August 6. Anyone with access to the Muslim calendar can see that Eid will fall around Aug 20. This means the schools that follow the Cambridge system will open for only two weeks, i.e., 10 school days, before they are closed for Eid holidays. In these 10 school days, the schools will remain closed for Jumatul Vida, August 14 and 27th of Ramazan.

The objections the Cambridge system schools are raising about the school calendar, curriculum, etc, do not hold water considering there will be only six days of school, that too in Ramazan with reduced school hours. I think the reason for their resistance has more to do with school fees than any other thing. Schools collect fees until June from students. If schools remain closed until August, they have to pay teachers and other staff for two months from their own resources and this is the real issue bothering the school administrations.

It is illogical to open schools in the middle of Ramazan; they should be opened after Eid.

SYED HUSSAIN ABBAS

Karachi