The General Directorate of Education in Madinah announced today the implementation of winter school hours in all public schools for boys and girls in the region, coinciding with the return of students to their classrooms and the start of the second semester of the current academic year. This decision comes as part of the commitment to providing a suitable learning environment that takes into account the changing weather conditions and ensures the safety and comfort of students.
Attendance times and morning line-up
According to a circular issued by the Medina Education Department, the new school day schedule has been adjusted to align with sunrise times during the winter season. The detailed schedule is as follows:
- Girls' schools: The morning assembly begins at 7:15 AM , and the first class begins at 7:30 AM .
- Boys' schools: The morning assembly starts at 7:30 AM , and the first period starts at 7:45 AM .
The context of winter time in the Saudi education system
The switch to winter time is an annual regulatory procedure adopted by the Ministry of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry grants education departments in regions and governorates the authority to determine the start date of this time based on climatic conditions and sunrise times in each geographical area. This flexible procedure aims to accommodate the time differences between the Kingdom's far-flung regions, making it easier for students to reach their schools at suitable times that ensure clear visibility and protect them from the extreme cold of the early morning hours.
The importance of the decision and its impact on the educational process
Implementing winter school hours is of paramount importance, extending far beyond simply changing schedules. It positively impacts students' academic performance and overall health. From a health perspective, delaying the start of the school day allows students to get sufficient sleep, enhancing their focus and mental alertness in the classroom. It also addresses the psychological well-being of families by alleviating the stress of waking up very early in cold weather.
On the social and traffic level, this organization contributes to distributing the morning peak times, which may help in the smooth flow of traffic in the streets of Medina, especially with the simultaneous departure of employees and students to their work and schools.
A call for commitment and discipline
The Madinah Education Department stressed the importance of parents’ role in supporting this transformation by regulating their children’s sleep hours to ensure active awakenings, and emphasized to school administrations the need to fully adhere to the approved schedules to ensure the discipline of the educational process from the first day of the second semester, in order to achieve the desired educational goals.
