UAE pupils fasting during Ramadan say rest and nutrition key to exam success

Thousands studying Indian curriculum in Grade 12 face tests while observing the holy month

Pupils studying for exams in the UAE say they do not want to skip fasting during Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pupils in the UAE who are fasting during Ramadan say rest, nutrition and being prepared are key to passing board exams.

Thousands at Indian-curriculum schools across the country are sitting their Central Board of Secondary Education Grade 12 exams during the holy month.

The exam season began last month and will continue until April 2. The results will help pupils gain admission to universities.

Pupils said they felt exhausted, dehydrated and struggled to focus on studies at times, but they did not want to skip fasting.

In Ramadan, the chances of our prayers being accepted increases so it makes it easier to manage the dehydration throughout the day even though it's challenging

Iman Asif Parbhulkar,
17, pupil at Delhi Private School Dubai

Delhi Private School Dubai pupil Farzad Shaikh, 17, is fasting and said he needed to be in for 6am on exam days.

He wakes up at 4.30am for suhoor, studies and then heads to the school, where a bus takes him to the exam centre, which is at a different school. The toughest part is being distracted by hunger pangs, he said.

“It doesn't let me focus properly when preparing for the exam,” he told The National.

“I have been writing three-hour-long examinations for a very long time now, so I think I am used to it. But since these are board exams, we have to write according to the Indian times, for which you have to go to the centre earlier.”

Farzad said he did not sleep after suhoor and instead used that time to study.

Farzad Shaikh is taking his CBSE grade 12 exams while fasting during Ramadan. Chris Whiteoak / The National

“I believe in having a strategy. I can't not sleep so the best strategy for me is that I shouldn't compromise on my sleep,” he said.

Getting enough rest helps him stay active and think clearly and analytically, he added.

Delhi Private School pupil Iman Asif Parbhulkar, 17, said she did not want to miss out on fasting during exam season.

“I have always fasted in Ramadan so even though the CBSE exams are very important, I didn't want to forgo fasting during these exams,” Iman said. “However, I feel very tired at times because I'm not eating or drinking anything.”

She tries to keep herself well hydrated during non-fasting hours to keep lethargy at bay.

Having a plan for her studies was crucial, she said. “I sleep properly to make sure I feel fresh and I make sure that I prepare for the exam beforehand,” she said.

Suha Kaddura, head girl at Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi, said balancing her academic and religious responsibilities was one of the hardest challenges. Photo: Yasmina British School

Ensuring she eats well during suhoor is also essential. “I have a cup of coffee, something sweet, fruits, whatever I need,” she said.

“In Ramadan, the chances of our prayers being accepted increases so it makes it easier to manage the dehydration throughout the day even though it's challenging.”

Suha Kaddura, head girl at Yasmina British Academy in Abu Dhabi, said one of the hardest challenges she faced during Ramadan was maintaining both academic and religious responsibilities.

“I'm grateful to have teachers who are extremely supportive when it comes to helping me balance my time,” she said.

Other pupils are also ensuring they have solid routines as they prepare to take their exams after Ramadan.

Fatma Alshehi, an Emirati Grade 10 pupil at the American Academy for Girls in Dubai, said short power naps helped to boost her energy levels.

“I feel like staying consistent and focused is important,” she told The National. “The first week is usually really tough but staying consistent and setting a time to study every single day helps.”

Rhoda Ramadan, another Grade 10 pupil at the school, said she focused on staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water and eating food with high water content, such as watermelon and cucumbers.

“When you're fasting for a long time in school, you kind of yearn for water instead of food because you're thirsty because without water, you get more headaches,” she said.

Extra support for pupils

Jennie Kellett, head of secondary at Yasmina British Academy, said the school ensures that students have quiet places to rest to help them cope.

“As exams are always a stressful time, we have also moved all our exam support sessions online, so that students can access these from the comfort of their home while fasting,” she said.

These have also been timed to ensure that pupils are able to perform their prayers on time and join their families for iftar.

Lini Shivaprasad, principal of Gems Millennium School Sharjah, said that teachers also met students for additional support so that they could communicate any difficulties.

“We have made arrangements so that our students are dropped directly to the centre rather than coming to the school then going there,” she said.

Usually students come to school and are then transported to the examination hall at a different school.

This year, they can go to the centres directly to save time and energy.

Her advice to students was to make sure they had a nutritious morning meal, including large amounts of fruit and water, and avoid eating anything fried before fasting.

Teachers are also available for online sessions with students in the evening to help calm pre-exam nerves.

Ramadan iftar offering in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – in pictures

Worshippers gather for iftar at Imam Hussein Mosque in Al Satwa, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

People of all age groups attend iftar at Imam Hussein Mosque in Al Satwa, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Preparation for iftar at Imam Hussein Mosque in Al Satwa, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Worshippers break fast at Imam Hussein Mosque in Al Satwa, Dubai. Leslie Pableo for The National

Worshippers queue for iftar at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Devotees collect their iftar meals at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Preparation for iftar at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Men sit with iftar meals outside Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque to break the day's fasting. Antonie Robertson / The National

Worshippers attend a communal iftar at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Men gather for iftar at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Fadie Musallet, who runs The Giving Family, hands out an iftar meal. Antonie Robertson / The National

The Giving Family hands out iftar meals in Al Quoz Industrial 1. Antonie Robertson / The National

A worker receives his iftar meal. Antonie Robertson / The National

Volunteers from The Giving Family are welcomed with open arms. Antonie Robertson / The National

Smiles all round as volunteers hand out meals in Al Quoz Industrial 1. Antonie Robertson / The National

Meals are sorted for workers ready to break their Ramadan fasts. Antonie Robertson / The National

Iftar meals are given to volunteers to pass on to grateful workers. Antonie Robertson / The National

Abu Dhabi residents gather at Mary Mother of Jesus Mosque to break fast on the second day of Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National

Those fasting await the call to break their fast at Mary Mother of Jesus Mosque. Victor Besa / The National

Iftar is served at Mary Mother of Jesus Mosque. Victor Besa / The National

Residents gather at the mosque to break their fast. Victor Besa / The National

A volunteer prepares plates of fruit for those about to break their fast. Victor Besa / The National

Meals are handed out at Mary Mother of Jesus Mosque. Victor Besa / The National