Many international and community schools in the capital have decided to reduce their working hours due to the scorching heat. M.J. Siddiqui, Principal of the International Indian School, Riyadh (IISR), which has an enrollment of about 10,000 students, said that from June 1 the girls section will work from 7 A.M. to 12 noon and the boys section from 7:15 A.M. to 12:15 P.M. This is a reduction of almost one and one half hours from the normal school day. The IISR office timings will be from 7:15 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. “Because of the weather conditions in the month of June, the children feel uncomfortable and become restless. Therefore, the School Managing Committee has decided to change the school timing from June 1, 2010,” Siddiqui said in a circular to parents. Pakistan International School, Riyadh (PISR), which has an enrollment of about 8,500 students, has already introduced the new reduced school hours from May 29. Muhammad Asad, PISR Chairman of the Board of Directors, said the decision to reduce the school hours was based on previous experience when students complained of nose bleeding, heat exhaustion and other heat-related problems. The new PISR school hours will be from 6:30 A.M. to 11:40 A.M., he said. Yara International School is following the IISR timings, said its principal. The New Middle East International School has also cut its working hours. Now the school will work from 7:30 A.M. to 12 noon, a reduction of 1 hour and 20 minutes.
