A growing chorus of teacher associations is calling for a re-evaluation of the regulations governing summer holiday dates in Germany. Andreas Bartsch, President of the North Rhine-Westphalia Teacher’s Association, highlighted the financial advantages of scheduling holidays outside of peak season, noting that September offers similar benefits to the Whitsun (Pfingst) holidays due to reduced travel costs. He criticized the current political discourse surrounding the holiday dates, advocating for a thorough discussion within the Standing Conference of Ministers of Education and Culture (KMK) rather than unilateral initiatives from individual states.
Martina Scherer, Chair of the Baden-Württemberg Teacher’s Association, echoed this sentiment, suggesting a review of the pros and cons of various scheduling options in the coming years. Concerns were also voiced from Thuringia, where Tim Reukauf, Chair of the Thuringia Teacher’s Association, pointed to the compressed school year and the resulting pressure on educators to adhere to the curriculum. He proposed exploring the feasibility of a nationwide, unified approach, drawing a comparison to the coordinated nationwide Easter holiday period.
However, not all teacher representatives agree with calls for change. Stefan Düll, President of the German Teacher’s Association and head of a gymnasium in Neusäß, Bavaria, dismissed the debate as overly emotional and believes the current system is adequate. The summer holiday dates are typically determined far in advance by the KMK, meaning any potential adjustments would not take effect until 2031.