Egyptian students will enjoy an extended one-week holiday for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration, as announced by the country’s Education Minister, Mohamed Abdel-Latif. The holiday will begin on March 29 and continue until April 4, with classes resuming on April 5.
The extended break follows a decree by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who granted a four-day public holiday from March 29 to April 1 for both the public and private sectors. Egyptian Labour Minister Mohamed Gobran mentioned that the holiday could be extended to April 2, depending on the moon sighting that determines the exact start date of Eid al-Fitr.
Gobran also emphasized that the government aims to align holiday schedules across different sectors whenever possible to support national unity. Employees required to work during the holiday will receive double their usual daily wage, he added.
The announcement comes after a wave of backlash following reports that private sector employees were initially slated to receive only a two-day holiday, deviating from the usual longer break.
According to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Eid al-Fitr is expected to begin on Sunday, March 30, based on astronomical calculations. However, the final decision will be made by Dar al-Ifta, Egypt’s official Islamic body, based on the sighting of the Shawwal crescent.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The festival spans three days, and its start date is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon on the 29th day of Ramadan, with months in the Islamic calendar lasting either 29 or 30 days.
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