Extra day of summer for Flemish students

Education minister Pascal Smet has announced that Friday, 27 June, will be the last day of school this year, granting students a holiday on the following Monday, which is 30 June, traditionally the last day for primary and secondary schools.

The decision will undoubtedly motivate many families in the region to leave on vacation in the weekend of 28-29 June. Because students in the rest of Europe – including Wallonia –  will not be on summer holiday yet, there will be far less traffic, and the prices for flights, hotels and campsites are cheaper.

“Booking a place at a campground in France could be up to 40% cheaper,” said Pierre Fivet, director of tour operator Vacansoleil. “We see that Flemings have discovered this advantage, as one out of five of our summer bookings starts on 28 June.”

Flemish families, as Smet knows all-too well, often leave early for a vacation even if there is no holiday, and if the last day is a Friday, the figure is likely to increase. Figures from the education ministry show that 4,300 students from primary and secondary education skipped the last day before the Christmas holiday last month.

photo by Tomas Rodriguez/Corbis