THE education ministry will give an additional holiday to government schools and ministry staff in anticipation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri falling on April 21. 

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said April 19 was decided on after gathering stakeholder input. 

 “We considered everyone’s views, and for the sake of everyone, especially teachers and education ministry staff, making plans to go back to their hometowns,” she told reporters today.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is expected to fall on April 22. 

As school mid-term holidays start on April 20, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) last Saturday called on the ministry to grant an extra holiday in anticipation of Hari Raya falling on April 21. 

“NUTP refers to a statement by the International Astronomy Centre based in the United Arab Emirates that said most Muslim countries will prepare to sight the moon and expect Hari Raya to fall on April 21,” its president Aminuddin Awang was quoted as saying in news reports. – April 11, 2023.