Face Off: Are summer holidays necessary?

Many students look forward to summer break all year long. The holiday began for practical reasons: in the days before air conditioning, schools closed in the summer to give city dwellers a chance to escape the heat and head to the cooler countryside. Though we now have ways to deal with the hot weather, the summer holiday is still important because it gives students a well-deserved break from their hectic academic schedules.

One reality of student life, especially for those attending local schools, is that a child’s schedule is extremely packed, offering kids little time to explore their interests and ease their stress. Summer break is the only time they don’t have homework or exams, so it allows students to focus on their hobbies and do whatever they want.

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Students can take the holiday as an opportunity to learn a new skill or to participate in an activity they longed to do but didn’t have time for during the school year. They can also polish their social skills by meeting new people and develop their existing friendships. They can also just relax, which they don’t have time to do during the academic year.

Summer holidays give students time with their parents. They have a lot of homework during the year, so they can’t spend much time with their families, which could affect the parent-child relationship. During the summer, students are free, so they can spend more time together. This gives them a chance to create cherished memories and bring families closer together.

The break also helps students prepare for the next school year. They will inevitably have some summer homework, but the extra free time means they can plan and work according to a schedule they find most effective for their learning. This allows them to practise and review what they learned in the past year without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. They can take the time to review the materials and make sure they understand them instead of rushing to finish.

Summer break is a blessing for students. It gives them time to pursue their interests instead of focusing on what is required of them. Relaxing and spending time with their loved ones helps them refresh, strengthens their relationships, and ensures they are ready for the next school year.

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Although most schools offer a summer holiday, we should question whether an extended break is necessary because it disrupts learning and could adversely affect students.

For starters, students often develop bad habits during the summer. They stay up late, scrolling through social media or playing games, and wake up late the next day. This disrupts their sleep schedules and negatively impacts their health. It also makes it hard to adapt to an early schedule once September hits.

In addition, summer holidays are a burden for parents who don’t have anyone to watch their children. They can’t be left alone, so families may have to pay someone to watch their kids or make sure someone isn’t working so they can be at home, meaning they would earn less money. This could hurt low-income families.

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Instead of a complete break, schools should offer students different summer activities, from sports to study tours to classes, that aren’t offered during the school year and aren’t graded. They could focus on subjects such as music, sports and the arts and foster all-rounded individuals while helping students broaden their horizons. It could also be a chance for children to bond with each other in a low-pressure environment, without the threat of deadlines or exams.

Schools could even arrange volunteer opportunities for students, which would be a win-win: it’s a way to give back to society, make the school look good, and give students a sense of accomplishment. They could also experience the joy that comes with helping others.

Advocates of summer holidays argue that the break gives children a chance to rest and relax. However, a summer full of unscheduled free time and nothing but games could lead them to forget what they learned the previous school year; just think of how much review teachers need to do when the new school year begins! Offering activities during the summer could keep students energised and engaged and prevent that feeling of sluggishness that tends to develop during the break, motivating them for the coming school year.

Summer is a great time to broaden your horizons and explore the world. A total break from school is unnecessary; instead, schools should offer non-graded activities to encourage students to learn new things, keep them engaged and help parents.