June 16, 2007

Vacations are essential for every student, but extra holidays can be useless. Then why not go to school earlier! During vacations, we get sick of foolish computer games and childish cartoons, and bored of surfing the Internet. The Sindh Education Department should realise that our precious time is wasted due to prolonged vacations. To avoid this, they should allow schools to close on June 1 and reopen on August 1. This will allow students to enjoy their vacations by maintaining a proper schedule and even hang out with their friends.

During the long vacations students pick up habits that spoil their calibre. For instance, the girls can indulge in senseless saas-bahu soaps and boys start smoking and keep bad company. As a student of psychology, I think that, at this stage, a student’s habit can be spoilt very easily.

We already get too many extra holidays due to frequent strikes, though I never appreciate these. Because of these useless holidays, students miss lessons and fall behind on the syllabus. I know that there are a few who will support me, but most students will disagree because they enjoy doing nothing and do not appreciate school. But just think how bored you will get in these summer months when it’s too hot to go outside!

I know I am rather young to suggest that the Education Board limits holidays, but since this issue affects me, and I have been given the opportunity to express myself, I would like to say that the Sindh Education Board should not extend the holidays to any later than the August 1.
Asad Sultan Ali,
13 years

Vacations are necessary for the development of a student. It enables a child to relax after difficult examinations and 10 months of continuous studies.

Many students usually visit different places to relax and enjoy. In our city, summer vacation are usually given for the months of June and July. Last year the Education Commission decided to extend vacations till August 15. Most students approve of it as they get some more time to relax. I was really surprised to know that APMSA (All Private Schools Management Association) is against the government’s decision to increase summer vacation this year. Although, there have been many holidays due to strikes and other reasons. this year, it is hardly the students’ fault. While two-month vacations are by no means short, I feel that it will be good for students if the vacations are increased. As we all know, the basic purpose of summer vacation is to provide students some respite from the scorching sun. The hottest months are mostly June, July and August. Therefore, vacation should be extended until mid-August.

I hope that APMSA will address this matter and extend the summer vacations of the schools in Karachi. I am looking forward to this step to be taken in the favour of the students.
Muhammad Hamiz Ahmed,
13 years

The summer vacations are very good for children because after a long studying year they need a break. The education department has scheduled summer vacations from June 1 to August 15 which is opposed by the administration of private schools.

But in my view schools should open on August 1. So the students can enjoy and celebrate Independence Day at school. This will enhance feelings of patriotism. Besides this, all through the academic year our studies suffer due to strikes and other incidents. So in order to keep up with our studies and energise ourselves it is important that vacations are not extended.
Mohammed Hasan Ehtesham,
12 years

I would like to discuss the issue about whether the summer vacation should end on August 1 or 16. In my point of view, August 1 would be a much better choice. To be brief, as school starts earlier, we have a longer period for completing the syllabus. Speaking of experience, last year we had numerous unexpected holidays due to excessive rainfall.

As a result, we were forced to take extra classes on Saturdays. In addition, subjects such as literature cannot be rushed and squeezed into short timings as to give students enough knowledge to cope with the syllabus; the exams would bring a huge amount of pressure on students like me who always want to get good marks.

Adding to the number of holidays are the strikes. Of course, no school would risk its students’ lives. Also, although school starts on August 1, studies do no actually start then. First there is orientation of new students (like in my schools a lot of students join in class 3, 7 and 10), the receiving of text books and stationary in all grades and a few national holidays and then we slowly and gradually get started to study.

Thus, I would prefer that schools start on August 1.
Ha An Nguyer Thi,
13 years

I think that summer vacation should be from the June 1 to August 1 because two months of holidays are enough. We should start school on August 1 so that we can begin our studies earlier and therefore complete our syllabus in time. August brings with it the joy of Independence Day (August 14). We should try and instil love for this country in every child’s mind and this can only happen if all children celebrate this auspicious national holiday together.
Warda Fazal Khan,
13 years