The Daily Poll

Stephanie Park says that school calendars in Ireland ‘no longer reflect the two-income realities of modern family life’.

SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS in Ireland are now two weeks into the summer break – with primary schools due to finish up at the end of June.

For many students, school holidays are often something to look forward to. However, writing for the Irish Examiner, parent Stephanie Park argues that Irish school calendars “no longer reflect the two-income realities of modern family life”.

In Ireland, secondary school students have around three months off for summer, while primary school students have a two-month break. Park compares this with the system in Zimbabwe and Zambia, where holiday periods take place in shorter blocks across three school terms.

Several European countries also take a different approach to Ireland’s school calendar. For example, summer holidays in the UK and Germany typically last around six weeks.

Park says that the long summer break can be a difficult time for families. Parents may not have enough annual leave to cover the holidays, while summer camps and trips away can be expensive for families, she says.

We want to hear your thoughts on the matter.

So, we’re asking: do you think school summer holidays in Ireland are too long?