The Ministry of Education provided an explanation for the reduction in summer vacation duration for school students and the extension of the first and second semesters.

Ahmad Al-Masaafa, the Ministry's spokesperson, said the primary reason for changing the students' schedule is to address the educational setbacks experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly with the transition to online learning.

Masaafa further stated that the academic year has been extended, with students starting on August 20th, in order to compensate for the educational loss.

The Ministry explored various options, including increasing working hours, but due to schools that operate in two shifts, extending the academic year was deemed the most suitable choice for student compensation.

It should be noted that private schools were not included in this decision, as the educational loss in public schools and UNRWA schools is more significant, and private institutions have their own programs.

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