Lower Saxony calls for fairer summer holidays – the debate is raging!

Lower Saxony calls for fairer summer holidays – the debate is raging!

The debate about the summer holiday regulations in Germany continues to cause excitement. While Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are traditionally the last federal states to start the summer holidays, Lower Saxony sharply criticizes this regulation. However, the Ministry of Culture in Lower Saxony remains calm because it does not see any acute problem NDR reported. The ministry is open to possible new regulations, but at the same time emphasizes that a uniform regulation would probably find broader support among the population.

The Lower Saxony Education and Science Union (GEW) has expressed itself even more strongly. She complains that families in Lower Saxony have to travel during the expensive high season, while their Bavarian neighbors can enjoy cheaper late summer holidays. This results in an urgent desire for a reform of the existing system. The state student council has also clearly spoken out in favor of new regulations.

The situation in the federal states

The current regulation stipulates that all federal states benefit from a rolling system when the summer holidays start, with the exception of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, which only start their holidays in August. RND explains that this regulation has caused some tension in the past, as the different summer vacation dates cause serious problems when planning family tours as well as school trips and project weeks.

For the federal states mentioned above - Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg - there are historical reasons for maintaining this later start to the holidays. Agricultural traditions and cultural roots have led to this regulation, which is, however, no longer viewed as up-to-date today. This has led to demands, particularly from North Rhine-Westphalia and supporting federal states such as Lower Saxony, Thuringia, Hamburg and Rhineland-Palatinate, which are striving for more equality from the 2030/31 school year.

The reactions of politicians

However, a spokesman for the CDU Lower Saxony considers a fundamental new regulation to be very unlikely and rejects a complete reorganization. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder has made it clear that Bavaria will stick to its holiday rhythm. This does not make agreement between the federal states any easier. The Education Minister in Schwerin is hoping for a compromise by the end of the year.

The Ministry of Culture has also thought about the pedagogical aspects. Lower Saxony sets its holiday dates according to these criteria and asks for support from the surrounding federal states in order to avoid traffic jams and overcrowded accommodation. A colorful holiday corridor could help to equalize traffic flows and optimize the utilization of holiday accommodation, according to the Lower Saxony Tourism Association.

The current discussion has sparked a drama surrounding the summer holidays, but hope for an amicable solution remains. A uniform system could really help ensure that holidaymakers have less stress with planning in the future and that all federal states can benefit from better distribution. The Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs has already made it clear in the past that a rolling system is being sought to not only avoid traffic problems but also promote recreation.

It remains to be seen whether and when the matter will come to a head or whether the federal states can agree on modernization. One thing is certain: the summer holidays will continue to be a topic that moves people's minds.