Families plan around the school year — work leave, travel, tutoring, family visits — and most of the frustration comes from assuming a date that was never fixed. Knowing which dates are set nationally and which are set by the school removes most of that.
The school week runs Sunday to Thursday
Jordan's school week is Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Families arriving from countries with a Monday-to-Friday week should plan around this, particularly for travel bookings.
Some dates are national, some are not
The Ministry of Education sets the academic calendar, the examination periods, and the official holidays. Individual schools do not change these.
Schools do decide their own daily start and finish times, activity schedules, parent meetings, internal assessment dates, and how they adjust routines during Ramadan.
So when you ask about a date, ask who sets it. If it is a Ministry date, the school cannot move it. If it is a school date, it is worth asking early.
Tawjihi has its own calendar
The Tawjihi general examination is held between 1 June and 31 August each year. This period governs a great deal for families with a Grade 12 student, and it does not move to suit anyone's travel plans.
Families with a Tawjihi student should treat that window as fixed and plan everything else around it. See our guide to the new Tawjihi system.
Confirm current hours rather than assuming
School hours change between the admissions period and term time, and are adjusted again during Ramadan. Do not rely on last year's timings or on what another school does.
Our office is currently open Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM during the admissions period. Term-time hours differ; contact us to confirm the current schedule before planning around it.
Plan the administrative work backwards
Registration, transfers, and directorate paperwork all take longer than families expect, and they run on other people's timelines. Work backwards from the date you need to be enrolled, and add margin.
Our document checklist sets out what is usually required.
Ask these before the year starts
- What are the daily start and finish times for my child's grade?
- When are the internal assessment periods?
- How and when does the school communicate official updates?
- What happens on a day the school closes unexpectedly?
- Who do I contact about an absence?
Write the answers down. Most mid-year confusion comes from a question nobody asked in September.
Families can review the admissions process or contact the administration for the current calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What days is the school week in Jordan?
Sunday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend.
Which dates does the Ministry set and which does the school set?
The Ministry sets the academic calendar, examination periods, and official holidays. Schools set their own daily start and finish times, activity schedules, parent meetings, and internal assessment dates.
When are Tawjihi examinations held?
Between 1 June and 31 August each year. This window is fixed and does not move for travel plans.
What are the school's current office hours?
Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM during the admissions period. Term-time hours differ — contact us to confirm before planning around them.
How far ahead should registration paperwork start?
About a month. Registration, transfers, and directorate paperwork run on other people's timelines, so work backwards from your enrolment date and add margin.
