Holiday Schedule for This Academic Year
- In November, after the first quarter, schoolchildren will have only three days off — on the 5th, 6th, and 7th, which, combined with the weekend, totals five days of rest.
- Winter holidays will last for 12 days — from December 31 to January 11.
- After the long third quarter, children will have only one day off — on Friday, which, along with the weekend, will make three days.
- In May, a break is scheduled from May 1 to May 11, after which the academic year will end in two weeks.
Parents' Concerns
Many parents express dissatisfaction with the new schedule.One mother, outraged by the situation, shared: "As a mom, I am in shock. When I saw that the holidays were so short, I just couldn't believe it. Why only three days?"
Although the Ministry of Education claims that the holidays amount to five calendar days, in reality, it's only three working days. We already have weekends, so the children barely get a chance to relax before they have to go back to school.According to her, her son, who studies at a private school, has a lot of assignments and studies all day long. "The curriculum is much more complicated now than it used to be. Children get tired; they need a proper rest to recover. It seems that officials do not understand what it is like to be a child," she added.
In her opinion, the spring holidays also do not live up to their name — in fact, it's just one day. "Why not make them from March 5 to 6? And it shouldn't be claimed that the New Year and May holidays are long. This interests officials more, who can travel to warm countries during this time," she noted.
Children need a balanced distribution of rest throughout the academic year, not just twice a year. Every new decision from the Ministry of Education raises confusion.Another mother reported that she decided not to send her three children to school. "I never allow my children to skip school, but this time I made an exception. They have classes on Monday and Tuesday, and the holidays start on Wednesday. I and many other parents were puzzled by this schedule. I told the children that they could stay home and rest; let there be a few absences, but at least they will have a proper break," she shared.
Official Position of the Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education explains that changes in the holiday schedule are related to the implementation of the new Labor Code, which provides for long weekends. Due to the increase in weekends in January and May, the holiday schedule has also changed to accommodate the academic program.Experts' Opinions
Experts believe that even small changes in the academic load can negatively affect children's mental health.Doctor Baktygul Zhumagulova emphasizes that short holidays do not allow children to recover from academic stress. Nevertheless, she believes that five days in November may be sufficient for rest after the first quarter.
"The first quarter is not that loaded; September is usually for adaptation, and by October the educational process is already established. Therefore, children are not yet tired and want to learn," she added.
However, in her opinion, younger students, especially first-graders, need more time to recover from changes in the curriculum. "Additional holidays would be beneficial for them," the doctor noted.
From a pediatrician's perspective, shortening the spring holidays is a mistake, as the third quarter is the longest and most challenging for children. "During this time, their bodies are exhausted, and the spring weather changes also affect their emotional state," she added.
When I saw the holiday schedule, I realized that healthcare is not taken into account in the educational process. Specialists should assess how the load affects students' health.Previously, all important issues, including holidays, were coordinated with the Ministry of Health, where decisions were made by specialists. Today, studies on children's health are conducted extremely rarely, although it is pediatricians who should monitor the impact of academic load on children. "I have been working in school medicine for 15 years and see that this issue has not been of interest to anyone for a long time," Zhumagulova noted.
She also emphasized that prolonged overwork can lead to apathy, loss of interest in studies, and decreased immunity.
Education expert Umuthan Tynalieva believes that the interests of schoolchildren should be the focus of the Ministry of Education.
"The holiday system has been formed over many years, and it is no coincidence that such a schedule was established in Soviet times. It took into account the curriculum, stress resistance, and children's needs. Now, after the longest quarter, they get only one day off," she emphasized.
The Labor Code is aimed at the adult population and does not take into account the educational process for children.With the transition to 12-year education and the enrollment of six-year-olds in the first grade, it was important to comprehensively study the issue and make changes to the holidays, without relying solely on the Labor Code. "I am sure that with proper justification, the government would not oppose this, but the ministry chose the easiest path for itself," she concluded.
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