Education Ministry considering cutting summer vacation by month

Education Ministry examining possible of reducing summer recess by month, during which time teachers will operate educational activates in a summer-camp format

Shahar Chai|Published: 11.27.13 , 23:55

The Education Ministry is planning to significantly reduce summer recess – beginning with first and second grades.

According to the plan, close to a month will be taken off the recess, during which no studies will take place but rather as of yet undefined educational activities. The plan is suppose to come into effect this summer and in upcoming years additional grades will join.

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The plan stipulates that during three weeks of summer break teachers will teach in State-organized summer camps. In the first stage, the program will service first and second graders and funding will come from the government as well as parents. The price will be set according to each community's socio-economic status.

The last time the summer vacation – known in Israel as the 'big break' – was shortened was during the 2011-2012 school year.

Under the leadership of then Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar it was decided that the summer recess would be cut by a week with studies beginning during the last week of August in stead of the 1st of September.

However the deducted vacation days were added to the Hanukkah and Passover vacations.

Head of the public committee founded by the Education Ministry to examine the possibility of reducing the summer recess, Shmuel Slavin, stated at the time that the move was only an initial step, to be followed by additional reductions.

"I will certainly recommend that in two to three years time the ministry should implement an additional reduction of the summer vacation. A significant reduction will better respond to children's real needs," he said at the time.

During the 2011-2012 cut many school principals opposed them move, citing its potential infringement on their working conditions.