Oman education: Ministry advances summer vacation amid heat wave

Muscat: In a bid to protect the Sultanate’s youngest school children from the summer heat, the Ministry of Education has declared summer vacations for students of Grades one to four earlier-than-expected, according to an official at the Ministry of Education.
The Times of Oman spoke to Humood Al Harthi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Education, who confirmed the move. “It’s a decision to protect schoolchildren from being exposed to the high temperature, especially as the coming week is the last week for grades one to four school children,” said Al Harthi.
He explained that the decision was taken by the ministry as a precautionary measure and also to attract more students to attend until the final day of teaching in government schools.
When asked about private schools, Al Harthi explained that private schools run different curricula, and that these schools might not close for holidays in the coming week. “Private schools have their own system and such a decision does not affect them,” said Al Harthi.