Suche
Mein Konto
Summer holiday dispute: Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria reject reform!
Discussion about summer holidays 2025-2030 in Baden-Württemberg: Rejection of NRW proposals, 79% consider late holidays to be fair.
Summer holiday dispute: Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria reject reform!
What is happening around the summer holidays in Germany? A debate unfolds in which differences between the federal states become noticeable. The proposal by North Rhine-Westphalia's Education Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) for a nationwide new regulation of the summer holidays is being particularly hotly debated. But not all federal states are sympathetic to the plan. Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria reject the idea and reiterate their traditional holiday regulations.
The discussion about the summer holidays has gained momentum in the last few weeks. Some federal states find the late dates unfair, especially considering that the holidays in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg often only begin in August. Surveys show that 79% of participants think the late vacation is right. Only 15% would like a start in June, while 6% have no opinion. However, an earlier start to the holidays could jeopardize the existing two-week Whitsun holidays, which critics see as a major risk.
Regulations until 2030
The Conference of Ministers of Education recently determined the summer vacation periods for the years 2025 to 2030. This affects all 16 federal states and is intended to offer schools and families with school-age children planning security. Under this regulation, the total holiday period is:
- 2025 bis 2028: 80 Tage
- 2029: 87 Tage
- 2030: 80 Tage
Coordination takes place in five groups to avoid congestion in traffic and demand for accommodation. The rolling system, in force since the Hamburg Agreement of 1964, ensures that the summer holidays do not start before June 20th.
Dispute over fair regulation
The current dispute over the start of the holidays has deeper roots. The Bavarian Minister of Culture Anna Stolz points out that the historical reasons for the late summer holidays in southern Germany should still be considered valid. Markus Söder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, categorically rules out changing the regulation and emphasizes the cultural roots. However, critics from Lower Saxony, Thuringia and Hamburg are of the opinion that it is time to create a fairer and more modern system.
The arguments for the current system are strong, not least because of the flourishing tourism industry in Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. An earlier start to the holidays could have negative effects here. Nevertheless, there is a clear call for balance, especially from the North Rhine-Westphalian minister, who is calling for an equal regulation. Ultimately, the planning must also take pedagogical aspects into account, for example with regard to exam times and teaching phases.
The next opportunity for change may not be until 2030, as the existing holiday regulations will be firmly established over the next few years. The long debate shows how much education, tradition and regionality there is in the summer holidays. The ongoing discussions surrounding the holiday season bring to light the different perspectives of the federal states and could have a lasting impact on how we vacation and learn in Germany.