As is known, Italy stands out for having one of the longest summer breaks. But what does this mean for parents and students?
For Italian families, covering the almost 14 weeks of summer vacation is an economic burden. According to the National Association for the Defense and Orientation of Consumers, the average expense for a private campus is 170 euros per week, a cost that only 25% of families can afford.
But the problem is not just economic. Studies by the American Educational Research Association indicate that 51% of students experience a “regression” during the holidays, losing up to 34% of the knowledge acquired during the year, particularly in mathematics.
The Eurydice network reveals that Italy, together with Latvia, has the longest holidays in Europe. This choice has its roots in an agricultural past, when holidays were scheduled around the grain cycle. Despite various attempts at reform, the school calendar remains unchanged, often justified by the climate factor.
Several administrations have tried to “shorten” the summer holidays, but without success. The last one in 2021 with the Drghi government which proposed to extend the school year to compensate for the effects of the pandemic and DAD. However, despite the implementation of “summer schools,” many parents argue that a structural solution would be to change the calendar.
Between the economic burden on families and the academic risk on students, the current system seems increasingly unsustainable. It is time to ask ourselves whether a structural change is now necessary for the well-being of the next generation.
