Educators across the UAE reveal how their school breaks are spent balancing rest, lesson preparation and professional development, challenging the common perception that teachers are simply on holiday.
For many students across the UAE, the end of the academic year marks the beginning of a much-anticipated summer break. However, for teachers, the period after classrooms empty often takes a very different shape.
Although school holidays may appear to be long periods of time off, educators and school leaders say much of the break is dedicated to planning, preparing for the new academic year and continuing professional development.
This time is often dedicated to a range of responsibilities, including curriculum planning, professional development, reviewing student progress and preparing campuses for the new academic year.
Rebecca Gray, Director of Education at Taaleem, said teaching remains one of the most rewarding yet demanding professions, and the common perception that teachers enjoy extended holidays does not reflect the reality of their work.
“While many people associate teaching with long school holidays, the reality is that teachers’ annual leave is significantly less than is often assumed,” she said.
“School holiday periods are not the same as teacher holidays, with much of the time before and after each break dedicated to planning, preparation and professional responsibilities.”
The work behind the scenes
During the summer break, teachers across UAE schools often continue working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth transition into the next academic year.
Gray said educators spend part of the summer reviewing student performance, developing lessons and attending training programmes, while school leaders handle broader operational duties.
“During the summer, many teachers are involved in curriculum planning, reviewing student outcomes, preparing new schemes of work, attending professional development programmes and onboarding new colleagues,” she said.
She added that school leaders also manage responsibilities such as recruitment, strategic planning, safeguarding reviews and ensuring campuses are ready before students return.
For CBSE schools in the UAE, the academic calendar typically includes a summer break of around six to eight weeks, along with a winter break lasting two to three weeks.
However, education leaders said these breaks are part of the wider academic schedule and should not always be viewed as traditional annual leave.
Punit MK Vasu, CEO of the Indian High Group of Schools, said the long-standing image of teachers spending their summers relaxing has created an inaccurate perception of the profession.
“The idea that a teaching job comes with long weeks of iced lemonade on the beach during summer and shorter trips to winter wonderlands has long been proven wrong,” he said.
“It’s a common misconception that teachers are on holiday whenever school is closed.”
The unseen responsibilities of educators
Vasu said teaching is among the professions where responsibilities frequently extend beyond official working hours, with educators dedicating personal time to lesson preparation, student assessments and skill development.
“It is high time the spotlight shifts from the leave that teachers receive as holidays to the 44 weeks of relentless work that is expected of every educator in a typical academic year,” he said.
He highlighted the pressures faced by teachers, noting that education, like healthcare, is considered an essential service because of its wider impact on society.
“But even here, what really sets teaching apart from all others is that this is perhaps one of the few professions across the spectrum where one’s work enters one’s homes,” he said.
“With KHDA school inspections now a regular feature of the school calendar, the expectations and minimum standards for a teacher’s deliverables have climbed to incredible heights.”
Vasu said teachers continue to face significant scrutiny, with evaluations, classroom expectations and academic standards requiring continuous preparation.
“The scrutiny is constant, the pressure is relentless and the evaluation rigorous, and this is something every teacher is very much aware of,” he said.
However, educators stressed that holidays are not entirely devoted to work. Many teachers use the break to spend time with family, recharge and pursue personal interests, while some voluntarily continue professional development.
“Most teachers voluntarily choose to stay academically engaged even during holidays,” Vasu said.
“Many spend one to two hours a day at home, sometimes even more, working on student assessments, updating lesson plans, preparing worksheets, reviewing curriculum and planning their lessons.”
Schools aim to balance rest and professional growth
Some UAE schools are also focusing on giving teachers meaningful downtime while encouraging ongoing learning through flexible development programmes.
Noufal Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director of Woodlem Education, said teachers need time to rest and reconnect with their personal lives so they can return to the classroom refreshed.
“When people look at the teaching profession, they often perceive the summer break as an extended period of holiday. However, this time is far more significant — it serves as an essential opportunity for rest, reflection, personal wellbeing and rejuvenation,” he said.
Ahmed said the school does not assign routine academic responsibilities during the summer break, allowing teachers to focus on their wellbeing.
“We consciously refrain from engaging teachers in lesson planning, routine academic responsibilities or school-related tasks during this period,” he said.
“At the same time, we encourage continuous professional growth through flexible, self-paced learning modules that educators can pursue at their own convenience.”
Ahmed said teachers who return refreshed and motivated ultimately contribute to stronger learning environments for students.
“We firmly believe that when teachers return refreshed, empowered and motivated, they bring renewed creativity, passion and excellence into the classrooms.”
