Exam boards discuss Ramadan 2016 and exam dates

[DeoGratias]

For those who believe in invented Gods apparently the exam boards may make some changes. I think the having key exams first in the mornings is the best proposal. One of my children last year who did pretty well in GCSEs often doesn't have any breakfast so he has an kind of Radaman fast anyway from 10pm to lunch or even after school sometimes. I think we can work around this.
It is not for 30 years that Ramadan has fallen so fully within the GCSE and A level period and then we had many fewer people prepared to believe in such things.

I do not think we should pander to those who are less progressive in their beliefs as some muslims will encourage their children to fast at a later date

But by saying we shouldn't pander to observant Muslims, you are implying that they should be allowed to fail key subjects, when a simple shuffling of the order of the exam timetable (not changing the actual dates of the exam period) will make this less likely.

The Muslims who are going to fast are going to fast whether maths is on the 26th May or 6th June. However, it is in the country's interest that they don't all fail. We've already got a massive crisis in resit numbers.
www.tes.com/news/further-education/breaking-news/colleges-cancel-classes-cope-gcse-resits-boom

then that is a choice they are making

there are some muslims that do not fast and choose to concentrate on their exams and fast at a later date - they make peace with themselves with that

in the end it is children that shall be taking GCSE's (or mainly) should children who are still growing be fasting for such long hours, in the summer when they are under extra stress from exams I am not going to support that or an other religious practice that goes to such an extreme

and those who do fast who is to say they will fail, fasting clears the mind not just the body, and if your belief is that strong then its an extra test for you - but that is your belief (or should be not the belief from pressure from others)

But why does it matter if they have rearranged a couple of the exams?
What difference does it make to anyone?
I don't understand the "pandering" complaint. It won't adversely affect anyone, but it will help schools to ensure that all of their pupils have the best chance to reach their full potential. Why would anyone object to that?

It makes sense to have EBAC subjects in the morning and before half term. They can out less critical subjects in the afternoon. I am glad that Muslim students are being treated compassionately.

I don't see what all the fuss is about, they seem to be very minor changes in the scheme of things.

It saddens me that it is such big news and it saddens me that any attempt to consider the feelings of Muslims is seen as some terrible pandering that will cause wider societal harm.

Imagine if you will, being Muslim and having to explain this sort of media coverage to your children. I've got those conversations to look forward to and I'm dreading it.

I object to all religious practices to be taken into consideration I want secular education

It's not always Muslim bashing ....

Though I feel it would be better for fasting to be postponed and made up for at a later date as I know some Muslims will encourage their children to others won't

When religious practices are discussed it's going to offend at times I am sorry if you are

Ignoring religious practices isn't going to make them go away or stop them having any effect.

Reasonable minor adjustments to try to avoid issues in results in key subjects which would not only affect Muslim students but other students as well is just being practical.

I'm not offended, I'm saddened, there's a difference.

As stated upthread, the entire school calendar is arranged around the holidays of one religion (which I have no problem with, btw), are you going to campaign against that, now?

I don't see why secular education (which I assume means religion having no role in school in the form of assemblies etc) means having no sensitivity to the needs of its students.

The school as an institution may be secular, that doesn't mean the children have to somehow drop their beliefs as they walk in the door - if that were even possible.

I am not campaigning it's a discussion on a public forum

I have also objected to on here in discussions ds being expected to follow a Christian led assembly at school I was surprised at how religious ds school is (new headmaster who is excellent in other ways) but not to the point I would take him out of assembly but I want school to be secular I am against religious schools too

Many parents complained at ds school that it was unfair that their older children have exams after their Christmas holidays it spoilt their plans as they had to revise and that impacted family plans can't I wasn't any more sympathetic toward them either some are quite religious and for others it spoilt their skiing plans either way

No I wouldn't have a problem with our national holidays changing it's based in the Christian calendar that is based on pagen but it follows western world calendar so I can't see it being changed anytime soon

But neither do I object to people of faith taking days off to celebrate I wouldn't kick up a fuss if Eid was not taken out of annual leave or children being taken out of school for one or two days that is a choice of their parents to do that and if it impacts their education )which I doubt) that is a choice they are making

I am an atheist I am not against religion but strongly believe education and religion should be separated

Objecting to a non-religious DC being forced to attend religious worship is understandable, but re jigging the exams isn't forcing anyone to fast during Ramadan.

It is still religious practices being taken into account it wouldn't. We under secular schooling

Have celebration assemblies of all faiths fine, teaching religion fine parents taken their children out for a few days to celebrate fine

If we has secular schooling it would raise a whole number of other issues but i am still in favour of it

Don't know where the We came from

But the religious practices are being taken into account because they are affecting education, not because they are religious practices.

I supported many Muslim families in secondary schools and all of them kept Ramadan - one family was very very strict Orthodox! All sat exams as timetabled and all survived and most went on to university. Yes, its hard but its a choice made by the family as part of their religion. Do the exams as timetabled in the non- Muslim country in which you have chosen to live, or fast at a more appropriate time.

"but no the whole exam timetable should not be accommodating religious practices

thank god GCSE and A levels never land on easter or christmas. how lucky is that!'

The dates of the exam series itself aren't changing. Just the dates of Core subject exams. Lot of fuss about not very much.

demented Ramadan, as far as I can tell, hasn't been in the main exam period since the mid 80s so unless you are thinking of families from decades ago, this issue hasn't been a problem for them.

That makes no sense

If there was no fasting or no Ramadan we wouldn't be having this discussion if we had secular schooling we would no be having this discussion it would just be accepted that religion and education are separate and religion is a personal matter

I disagree with any child who is still developing, undergoing the stress of exams or not, fasting for so long as they will be here in the UK in the summer. Religious leaders could encourage the use of ME times but they won't but that is a different argument and nothing to do with secular schooling argument

Ok, so let's say schools with a high proportion of muslim students see their results fall below the floor target, Ofsted intervene and they are put into a category. SLT lose their jobs, teachers leave in droves and the education of all children at that school is badly affected.

How separate are religion and education then? That is an entirely possible outcome.

Because parents then should take more responsibility at that point what is more important for their children fasting which many Muslims will postpone or sticking rigidly to a religion that suited life in the ME 1400 years ago

Religion can be adapted we are told Islam is adaptable and from those I know for some it is and for some it isn't

Argument isn't changing and the thought of schools failing down to students failing because they are fasting only deepens my support of secular schooling not the other way round

And who is to say students will fail Ramadan is there to test you, your faith will be tested this might be one of those times it's personal to that person and should only be

Anyway going round and round I circles I am boring myself as I must be others

So you are happy for schools to fail because of the make-up of their students? Schools can't force kids to eat and drink, regardless of how secular they are.

Who is to say that students will fail because of this? Well, anyone who has taught a student fasting during Ramadan will know that they are hardly in tip-top mental condition.

As for parents taking responsibility; schools and the education system already step in in many other issues. We can't force them not to fast, but we can help to ensure they aren't disadvantaged in other ways.

No of course not

And answers are the same as above

So you aren't happy with the thought of schools failing because of the make-up of their kids but you aren't happy with minor adjustments being made to the exam timetable to prevent this from happening?

Instead you want all followers of Islam to change their religious practices by May.

Well, that's not realistic is it? And so can be discounted as an option, when we're looking at a real problem affecting real schools.