Students will have shorter working hours at independent schools and kindergartens starting next week, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced.

Under the new system, which will take effect on Sunday (May 15), kindergartens shall close at 11.10 am while primary students in independent schools will be in school until 11.45 am only.

As for intermediate and secondary students, their school hours will end at 12.35 pm from now on, according to Qatar News Agency.

The Ministry said that its decision to shorten the school day at private schools and school days "stems from its keenness in students' interest so as to have the opportunity to prepare for their final exams without prejudicing the quality of education".

Twitter users hailed the decision of the ministry to shorten working hours for their children, an initiative which was appreciated by parents.

They also called on the ministry to follow suit and enforce the same measure on private schools and reduce the working hours for administrative and teaching staff.