Public school days in Dubai and the Northern Emirates will be reduced for the duration of Ramadan, the Ministry of Education announced on Sunday. Kindergarten opening hours will be shortened to 8.30am to 12pm. Primary schools for boys will begin at 8am and end at 12.35pm, while girls schools will be offset an hour later. Secondary schools for boys will open between 8am to 1.20pm and girls schools from 9am to 2.20pm. This month, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority said all private schools in Dubai would have their days <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/education/ramadan-hours-for-private-schools-in-dubai-announced-1.726590">shortened to five hours </a>during the holy month. Schools will start between 8am and 8.30am and end between 1pm and 1.30pm, with shorter breaks throughout the day, said Mohammed Darwish, Executive Director of the Licensing and Compliance Department at KHDA. The authority also recommended that private schools suspend all physical education classes during the holy month, which the Sharjah Centre for Space and Astronomy has predicted will begin on May 17. Eating and drinking will be restricted to private, designated areas to take into account the feelings of those observing Ramadan. The exact dates of the holy month are yet to be confirmed by the moon sighting committee. ______________ <strong>More on Ramadan:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/heritage/ramadan-2018-faqs-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-holy-month-in-the-uae-1.728818">Ramadan 2018 FAQs: all you need to know about the holy month in the UAE</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/ramadan-2018-public-sector-working-hours-announced-1.729970">Public sector working hours during Ramadan announced</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/food/ramadan-2018-abu-dhabi-restaurants-open-during-the-day-1.728765">Ramadan 2018: Abu Dhabi restaurants open during the day</a></strong>