UAE: Schools urge students to avoid ‘learning regression’ over winter holidays

Pupils enjoy a nearly three-week-long winter break with schools reopening on January 2

School heads in the UAE are advising pupils not to slip into “learning regression” as students continue to enjoy a long winter break.

Principals explain that recharging one’s batteries is a well-earned rest from study and is imperative but spending the entire stretch relaxing could put students at a disadvantage when they return to school in January.

It’s said these declines are sharper for subjects like math than for reading, and the extent of loss is usually greater at higher grade levels.

Vicky Martin, Head of Primary, GEMS World Academy – Abu Dhabi, said, “’Learning regression’ generally refers to a phenomenon where students lose some of their academic skills or knowledge over a long break. This could be especially true if the student isn’t engaging in educational activities during the break.”

Headteachers explain that the impact of these breaks on learning can vary widely from student to student, depending on factors such as the student’s age, the subject matter, the student’s engagement with learning activities during the break, and the support they receive at home.

“Learning loss can occur across all subjects and grades, but research has shown it is most noticeable in mathematics and reading, and the impact tends to increase as students get older,” he added.

Educators explain reading skills can also decline over long breaks, “particularly for younger students who are still in the process of acquiring foundational literacy skills. For older students who already have strong reading skills, the impact may be less, although their vocabulary acquisition rate may slow down if they are not reading regularly.”

Younger children, particularly those in elementary school, often have more structured activities and more parental involvement in their learning, which can help mitigate learning loss.

“These children are acquiring foundational skills in reading and mathematics, and any interruption can be detrimental. Middle school and high school students are learning more complex material and are more likely to forget information over time if they do not repeatedly practice or use it,” Martin continued.

Certain schools are in favour of assigning tasks during holidays to keep students’ mental faculties active, so that they don’t draw a blank when they return from their break.

Abhilasha Singh, principal, Shining Star International, said, “As educators, we are aware that long holidays can cause a setback in skills previously learned or mastered by the child. The students in the absence of a stimulus forget what they had learned and need to practice continuing mastering that skill. A simple example is math which needs a lot of practice and even sports. Research proves that 15 days of inactivity can affect an athlete’s endurance. That’s the reason teachers love giving holiday homework.”