With summer in full swing, families across the UAE are juggling holidays, travel plans, and downtime at home. But behind the relaxed pace of July and August lies a concern that educators have long warned about — the ‘summer slide.’
Studies show that children can lose 20-30 per cent of their academic progress over the summer break, particularly in math, where an average dip of up to 2.6 months is common over just six weeks.
This learning loss can quietly build up over the years, putting some students as much as two years behind by middle school. Recognising this, many UAE schools heads are actively encouraging parents to incorporate learning into their children’s daily routines, even during vacation.
“For some students there may be a slight loss of learning over the summer however we do encourage all of our students to read for a minimum of 30 minutes daily to develop literacy skills further which in turn enables access to all curriculum areas,” said Stephen Brecken, Principal/CEO of GEMS Cambridge International School, Dubai.
“Students are encouraged to access online platforms daily, such as Century Tech and Times Table Rock Stars, to prevent regression in learning, especially in the core subjects. We assign work over the summer for students joining us in Year 12 from the CBSE curriculum. We do find that the large majority of our parents encourage their children to undertake some form of academic learning over the summer holidays, which does go a long way to prevent summer regress,” Brecken said.
“Schools and educators could collaborate to develop early intervention programmes which would enable parents and children to learn together in a fun and engaging way over the summer, whilst also being mindful of the need for us all to take time to focus on wellbeing and Family First,” he added.
From digital tools to shared reading time, many families are doing their best to keep young minds ticking. Maryssa O’Connor, Executive Vice President of Quality Assurance and Principal of GEMS Wellington International School Dubai, pointed out that learning doesn’t have to be confined to books or devices.
“Mathematics curricula and assessment in schools are designed to ensure any gaps or difficulties are noted by teachers and addressed. Over time this should prevent children falling significantly behind and our schools have excellent intervention and teaching practices to support children who need extra guidance,” O’Connor said.
She explained parents can support by ensuring children regularly practise their maths using the resources shared by the teacher, this includes the holiday period. Just like reading, short periods of regular practice will help children remember.
Real life application is also a great way to keep maths alive in the holidays. “Parents can involve children in daily maths through counting, measuring and time planning. Try converting currency when travelling and working out the bill in restaurants and when shopping together. Planning routes, how long a journey will take and calculating time differences are all good ways to keep maths skills working hard in the holidays. Playing board games that involve counting and even keeping score of a ball game at the beach can help maths be fun for younger children too,” added O’Connor.
The summer break also brings emotional shifts, especially for children who’ve travelled back to their home countries or had disrupted routines. School leaders say this can affect how students reintegrate into the classroom.
“Being an educator for 30 years, I’ve seen that summer learning loss is a real and recurring challenge,” said Shiny Davison, Principal of Woodlem Park School Hamidiya.
“To address this, we dedicate the first week to informal assessments to identify learning gaps. With students returning from diverse backgrounds and experiences, especially after travel to home countries, we focus on restoring consistent routines, revisiting core concepts, and applying real-life learning strategies. These practices have proven effective over the years,” Davison added.
“To keep students and parents engaged during the summer break, many institutions continue the tried-and-tested practice of assigning holiday homework — designed in fun, creative formats to reinforce previously learned concepts.
“This ensures children remain connected to their learning while involving parents in the process. Additionally, we incorporate educational apps in English, math, and science, leveraging the tech-savvy nature of today’s alpha generation. These platforms make revision interactive and enjoyable. To boost motivation, we implement a reward system that appreciates completion and effort. This not only encourages children to stay on track academically but also builds a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm throughout the summer,” Davison said.
© Khaleej Times
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