The recent announcement by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to shorten the summer break has resulted in confusion among certain teachers, according to educational expert Mohammed Abu Amara.

Abu Amara told Roya on Monday that the reason behind this confusion is the delayed communication of the decision, which caught the teachers by surprise.

Abu Amara emphasized that some teachers rely on the summer vacation period to engage in additional employment opportunities due to their low salaries. Furthermore, he mentioned that certain teachers travel to a particular country to renew their residency during this time.

Also Read: Education Ministry explains reason behind shortened summer break

Earlier, the MoE 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.

Also Read: Summer break for school students reduced

Last week, the MoE announced that the summer break for school students has been reduced by around 10 days.