As Eid-ul-Azha coincides with the summer vacation this year, educational institutions throughout Bangladesh are enjoying extended breaks. However, the length of the holidays varies depending on the type of institution, with colleges receiving the shortest break and madrasas the longest.
According to the academic calendar issued by the Ministry of Education, government and private colleges began their Eid holidays on June 3. These institutions were not granted a separate summer vacation, resulting in a relatively short break. Initially, colleges were scheduled to resume on June 13. But with the following Friday and Saturday falling on regular weekly holidays, college classes will officially restart on Sunday, June 16. This brings the total holiday period for colleges to 10 days.
Primary schools, on the other hand, are closed for a significantly longer period. Their holiday started on June 3 and will continue until June 22. Classes are set to begin again on June 23, making for a 21-day continuous break. This break includes both Eid-ul-Azha holidays and the annual summer vacation.
Government and private secondary schools also began their break earlier than colleges. Their vacation started on June 1 and will last until June 19. Since June 20 and 21 are Friday and Saturday—the weekly holidays—students will return to school on June 22. Altogether, secondary school students are getting a 23-day vacation this summer.
The same schedule applies to technical and vocational education institutions. These institutions also closed on June 1 and are expected to resume activities on June 22. Their holiday spans 23 days in total, including both Eid and summer leave.
Madrasas, particularly government Alia madrasas and private Ebtedayee, Dakhil, Alim, Fazil, and Kamil madrasas, are enjoying the most extended vacation this year. Their break began on June 1 and will continue until June 25. Regular classes will begin on June 26. In total, madrasa students and staff will have 25 days off.
These varied schedules reflect the diversity within Bangladesh’s education system. While some institutions are using the overlap between Eid and summer vacation to reduce total days off, others have opted for more extended breaks to allow students and teachers more rest and religious observance time.
The differences in holiday durations have sparked discussions among educators and parents. While longer breaks provide much-needed rest, there are concerns about lost instructional time, especially in institutions with shorter academic calendars. Education officials, however, have clarified that all schedules are aligned with curriculum requirements and adjusted to ensure students receive the required number of teaching days throughout the year.
Though Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated nationwide, the accompanying holiday length varies: colleges are closed for 10 days, primary schools for 21, secondary and technical schools for 23, and madrasas for 25 days. This staggered approach ensures a balance between academic needs and cultural or seasonal considerations.
