School break: the aim is to be consistent

THERE has been much comment, not to mention some very creative newspaper headlines, in recent days about the Christmas holiday arrangements in schools.

For the record, it was my firmly held view that schools should commence the Christmas break on Friday, December 19. This was the position taken by department officials in the discussions with the unions, management and parents on the standardisation of the school year. A key issue in these discussions was to give parents clarity and consistency in relation to school holiday arrangements.

However, the teacher unions were agreed on a position that they wished to have a two-week break at Easter 2004 and the additional days would be contributed at Christmas.