Hundreds of thousands of teenagers will have to take key exams earlier than usual this year to help Muslim pupils fasting for Ramadan.
The GCSE and A-level schedule has been rearranged so that some exams in key subjects are clustered before the start of the Islamic holy month.
Where maths and English tests do fall during the festival, a larger number than usual are being held in the morning.
This is to avoid disadvantaging fasting pupils who can suffer low energy levels in the afternoon.
The Joint Council for Qualifications, which represents exam boards, said timetable allowances would be made where possible in subjects with large numbers of entries.
Several core maths exams appear to have been shifted to earlier dates than last year, meaning candidates will have fewer days to revise.
Similar measures are likely to be in place for at least five years, until Ramadan no longer clashes with the exam season. [1696 comments]
[TOP RATED COMMENT 16097 votes] I am living in the UAE and no such thing as bringing exams forward because of Ramadan as children don't have to fast, only adults. This shows again that European governments have no clue about Islam.
[2ND 13441] This is a Christian country
[3RD 11017] This is ridiculous. I had final year uni exams the first week in January, I didn't really want to spend Christmas revising but hey ho you get on with it! [Daily Mail] Read more
