Keep children in school, urge teachers

PARENTS should not take their children out of school during term time to avoid higher holiday travel costs, teachers have warned.

New rules in Britain allow schools fine parents up to £100 (almost 150) if children are taken out of school without permission. A survey of parents there has found almost 20% would pay the fine rather than pay premium prices during school holidays.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) said most problems usually arise here in early summer.

Parents can avoid paying top prices on summer holiday packages if they take off before peak prices are charged in July and August.

“In late May and June some primary teachers can have up to one-third of their pupils out of school because they’ve gone on family holidays,” said an INTO spokesperson.

“It means children miss out on classes and find it difficult settling down when they come back ,” he said.

The standardised school year agreed by teacher unions and the Department of Education this week means all schools must take their autumn and spring mid-term breaks at the same time. All second-level schools will be closed next week and primary schools will have between two and five days off.

The National Parents Council (primary) was disappointed not to be consulted on the times of school holidays but believes all children should get their full entitlement to school.

“Parents should not take children out of school during term because it leads to a loss of learning time and can be unsettling for the rest of the class and the teacher,” said chief executive Fionnuala Kilfeather.

Schools must report pupils child who miss more than 20 days of school to the National Educational Welfare Board which monitors attendance. Family and learning issues are the main reasons but holidays during term are also a factor.