School Year

Well to repeat something that I may have said before, I prefer the Botswanan school year to that in Canada.

Here they have roughly 3 equal terms starting the school year in January, after the Christmas holidays/break.

Approximately 12 weeks of school, then a month off for the Easter holidays (April); Back to school for 12 weeks and then another 4-week break in August; finally, a 3^rd semester of 12 weeks and then a Christmas break for all of December.

Thus, not one long extended summer break which in Canada is way too long.  Better to have even terms with nice breaks in between.  Easier to plan holidays and trips and to avoid the 1-week March Break scramble.  As well, end of school year exams in fact come at the year end.  Crazy to have the first semester of Canadian high schools extend into January and then exams.

I think it is high time consideration in Canada is given to a more balanced school year.

For Gordon the bonus is that for the rest of the month of April there are kids everywhere hanging out.  Thus, a good supply of cousins and neighbourhood kids to play a game of soccer or two with.