Should we have a shorter school year with more summer holidays?

Pulcheria Chung, 18 St Mary's Canossian College

Looking at my school calendar, it seems there are already too many holidays in Hong Kong. We get time off for western festivals like Christmas and Easter, as well as Chinese festivals like Mid-Autumn, Dragon Boat and the Lunar New Year. Instead of asking for more holidays, I think we should be grateful that our summer break lasts two months.

If you want a longer summer vacation, the other holiday seasons should be reduced. Do you prefer one long break or shorter, intermittent holidays throughout the year? Shorter holidays in between classes can give us a break from the pressures of school life and it will also be a great time to catch up on things that we missed out during the academic year. I think a longer summer holiday will make us lazy. After that, it will be difficult for us to switch our mind back to our studies.

Besides, teachers have to cover their syllabus and prepare their students for term tests and public exams. A shorter school year will put more pressure on teachers. Moreover, we wouldn't be able to properly absorb the knowledge if things are done hastily. Therefore, a longer summer holiday is definitely not a good idea.

Oliver Kwan, 17 Delia School of Canada

I think the school year should be made more compact and the summer holidays lengthened.