Summer vacation

In Bolivia, summer vacation runs from early December to early February[5] (2 months).

In Colombia, summer vacation varies. Colombia has an equatorial climate (see Climate of Colombia) and schools run two different calendars. Public schools and some private schools run "Calendar A" which has a short break from mid-June to early-July. Only some private schools run "Calendar B" in which there is a long vacation from mid or late-June to late-August or early-September.[6] One of the reasons for private schools to run "Calendar B" is to adapt their calendar to match the calendars of international schools (of the Northern Hemisphere) for summer courses and academic exchanges.[7]

In Suriname, summer vacation usually starts in mid-August and ends in early-October.[8] In 2012, a change of summer vacation was proposed by several legislators having summer vacation the same time as the Caribbean Community.[8] The proposed plan is summer vacation starts from mid-August and ends in early-October.[8]

The modern school calendar has its roots in 19th-century school-reform movements seeking standardization between urban and rural areas. Up until the mid-19th century, most schools were open for a winter and summer term. As individual schools merged into school districts and bureaucracies emerged to manage the newly formed school districts, school leaders and politicians identified a need to standardize calendars across regions. This standardization was related to the emerging tax structures, laws around compulsory education, as well as a general sentiment that school should be an essential component of American childhood.[9]

As the calendar was standardized across regions, school leaders took cues from a variety of factors, including attendance rates and the difficulty cooling school buildings. Many upper-class families left the city for cooler climates in the northeast during hot summer months, and as such, schools cancelled their summer sessions due to low daily attendance. As train travel became more affordable, middle-class families followed similar patterns, keeping their children home during the hottest months of the year or going away for a summer vacation.[10]

Additionally, many school leaders advocated for breaks so that students and teachers could rest their brains. Many 19th- and early 20th-century Americans educators believed that too much learning in hot weather was bad for one's health and could result in heat exhaustion and injury, particularly for younger children, whose minds were still developing.[11] The extended summer break was seen as a way for children and their teachers to rest and recover. In many places, teachers would use the summer months for their own learning and professional development, including participating in seminars and courses like those held at Chautauqua.

While the origins of the summer holiday break are often believed to be rooted in agriculture and the idea children were needed to assist with planting and harvesting crops, this is inaccurate. Most crops were planted in the spring and harvested in the fall.[12][13]

In India, Summer vacation lasts for two to three weeks depending on the type of school (public or private). Typical summer vacation is from the end of May.

Select universities have adapted the school year schedule of other countries, starting the school year in September and having the summer holidays from June to August.[14][15] Some of the schools that complied are still in transition, their academic calendars still beginning in July, others in August, with their summer vacations adjusted accordingly.[16]

In New Zealand, the school holidays typically start in early to mid-December, and end in late January or early February, which is usually 6–8 weeks.[17]

In Croatia, school year finishes at 21th of June, starting again on the first Monday of September, but if it is 1st or 2nd of September, then school year will start 7 days later.[18]

Until school year 2018./2019., school was over between 10th and 15th of June, but with same starting date.[19]

Students of last year of secondary school finish school year between 21st and 26th of May, but they have national exams during whole June, called "matura".[20]

In the Czech Republic, summer holiday begins on July 1 and ends on August 31 (2 months).[21]

In Iceland, the duration of the summer vacation can vary from one school to another. Typically students start their summer vacation during the first week of June and return to school in the fourth week of August.[22]

In the Republic of Ireland, most secondary schools start summer holidays at the end of May or the start of June. However, Junior and Leaving Certificate exams will take place during June. Schools will usually open again at the end of August to the start of September. Primary schools in the Republic of Ireland are sixteen days longer, so they start their summer holiday at the end of June but do not return until the first week of September.[23] Private schools follow the same pattern.

In Romania, summer vacation usually starts in mid-June and ends on the second Sunday of September (3 months).[24] Since 2022, though, the end date was moved to the first Sunday of September.[25]

For the 8th grade, summer break starts a week earlier before everyone else, whereas for the 12th (day) and 13th grades (evening and reduced frequentation) it starts 2 weeks earlier. For students attending the technological branch of secondary education, as well as those attending vocational and post-secondary education (with a few exceptions), summer vacation starts 1-2 weeks after everyone else.[25]

In Slovakia, Last day in school is usually the 30th of June and the first day in school after the vacation is usually the 2nd of September.[26]

In Spain, the school year finishes in mid to late June and begins in early to mid-September. Vacation varies by region but often includes a family vacation to lower temperatures in the cooler regions in the north of Spain, or south or east to the Mediterranean beaches.[27]

In Switzerland, summer vacation varies in each canton. As an example, in Zürich, it lasts five weeks and between mid-July and mid-August.[28] In Ticino, it lasts about ten weeks between late June and early September.[29]