Summer holidays start for 550,000 students in Rhineland-Palatinate as ministers reveal vacation plans
Nearly 550,000 children and young people in Rhineland-Palatinate end the school year today, while the state's new government ministers head to the Dutch coast, Italy, and Normandy.
School's out for summer
Six weeks of summer holidays begin today for around 550,000 children and young people in Rhineland-Palatinate. The break covers 440,800 students at general education schools and about 109,000 at vocational schools. Around 45,000 full-time teachers also start their holiday, having taught at 1,658 schools across the state, 1,497 of them general education institutions.
By the numbers
More than 162,000 primary school children are among those off, including roughly 40,000 first graders. The education ministry forecasts a similar intake of around 40,000 new first graders for the coming school year, the first cohort with a legal right to all-day care. The first day back after the summer break is 10 August.
- General education
- 440800
- Vocational
- 109000
Politicians' holiday plans
Minister President Gordon Schnieder (CDU) has not yet planned his break but wants family time.
Education Minister Ute Eiling-Hütig (CDU), newly moved from Bavaria to Bad Dürkheim, will spend part of the holidays unpacking boxes and reading into Rhineland-Palatinate education topics. No trip is planned, though she hopes for evenings on the terrace with her family.I'm looking forward to a few quieter days, even though the laptop will of course come along everywhere.
Domestic and European destinations
Health Minister Clemens Hoch (SPD), a self-described "Holland fan", heads to a house on the Dutch North Sea beach for fresh air and quiet. Deputy Minister President and Social Minister Sabine Bätzing-Lichtenthäler (SPD) also chooses the Netherlands.
Justice Minister Helmut Martin (CDU) goes to Normandy for beach walks with his dog. Agriculture Minister Christine Schneider (CDU) combines a European trip with time in her workshop; the trained carpenter says she thinks best while doing handiwork. Municipalities and Culture Minister Sven Teuber (SPD) and Economics Minister Michael Ebling (SPD) both head to Italy for classic Mediterranean holidays with family, good food, and sea views. No minister is travelling outside Europe.We've often been there for summer holidays because it's ideal for us with two children and a dog to spend time together actively. The classic Netherlands programme is on: beach and sea, bike tours and city trips – and of course frietjes and frikandel speciaal.
Looking ahead
The new state government has only recently taken office, with Schnieder delivering his first government declaration. The summer pause offers a brief respite before political routines resume. For the education system, the coming school year brings the first cohort of first graders covered by the all-day care legal entitlement.
