The Ministry of Education and Higher Education said the 2016-17 final examination will be held at their scheduled dates and in accordance with the annual calendar of independent schools. A senior source said the ministry has no intention to change the dates of the final examinations to take place before Ramadan, noting that the schedule is prepared in line with the calendar and, hence, there is no need or reason to change it. The remarks came in the wake of rumours of a possible change in the examination schedule. According to the annual academic calendar of independent schools, final examinations are set to start on May 25 and end on June 10 for the final year students of secondary schools, while Grade 10 and 11 exams start on May 28 and end on June 13. Students of Grade 4 to 9 start their exams on June 4 to 11, and students of Grade 1 to 3 take their exams from May 18 to 25. The second stage examinations is scheduled to start for all grades on July 23 and end on August 1.