A leading German education union representative is calling for a comprehensive review of the country’s system for determining summer holiday dates. Ayla Celik, chairwoman of the GEW education union in North Rhine-Westphalia, believes a re-evaluation extending beyond the current state-by-state approach is warranted.
Speaking to the “Rheinische Post” Celik argued that a fresh assessment should consider the needs of children, families and schools. She highlighted the growing challenges posed by climate change and increased heatwaves, alongside the ongoing need for improved work-life balance. Consequently, she suggested a serious examination of moving away from the current, regionally-specific holiday schedule.
Celik pointed to countries like France and Italy, which operate with unified holiday regulations, suggesting this model could offer significant benefits for German families. A standardized approach would allow for greater flexibility and ease of travel for families with children residing in different federal states and could also simplify the process of transferring between schools located in different regions.
According to Celik, the key question isn’t whether such a change is feasible, but whether there exists the political will to pursue it.
