A UAE study into a three-day weekend and four-day week for week for students found improvements in academic achievement and social skills.
The Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) recently completed an extensive study to evaluate the impact of the government of Sharjah’s decision to implement a four-day working week and a three-day weekend.
The study was conducted with the assistance of 31,198 families of students from 70 different nationalities, 7,000 teachers and administrators, and 127 schools.
UAE 3-day weekend
Dr. Muhadithah Al Hashemi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Private Education Authority, stated that the study revealed significant improvements in indicators of academic achievement, productivity, and mental well-being.
Director of the SPEA, Ali Al Hosani, reported that the research indicated:
- A 77 per cent increase in academic achievement among students
- A 78 per cent increase in social skills and interactions among students.
The study also found that the change in school hours was in line with the global standard.
Additionally, the UAE research showed:
- A 74 per cent increase in students’ problem-solving abilities
- A 73 per cent increase in their time management skills
- A 78 per cent increase in students’ academic performance on given assignments
- An 88 per cent increase in students’ capacity for spending quality time with their families
The Sharjah Executive Council conducted research on implementing the four-day workweek across the emirate and found that the new work system had a significant beneficial impact on several indicators and factors related to the work environment and employee productivity.