Parents and schoolteachers are worried over reports that the Education Ministry is studying extending school hours.

The ministry recently announced on its website its intention to look into extending the school day, with the extra hours used to strengthen classes or do homework.

Heads of education departments in the governorates recently received a notification to fill out a questionnaire on their opinion about the new idea. The poll will be taken by the administrative and teaching staff, as well as fifth and sixth grade students to evaluate their views on the project.

Samir Abdullah Al-Sharif, mother of three students in elementary, intermediate and secondary schools, said: “I would only support the initiative if students could have the right to choose what classes they want in order to develop their personalities. But if the decision means more classes and learning subjects by heart, then I am totally against this approach,” she told Arab News.

Mohammed Al-Adlouni, father of four, argued that some schools do not have the right infrastructure to host students for such long days.

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