Too many school holidays

THE EDITOR: This is a letter to  Education Minister, Hazel Manning. Can you tell me why it is that schools cannot open on Ash Wednesday? Why is it that despite the long summer holidays, the Easter and Christmas reeks and the numerous public holidays that this country enjoys, that the ministry feels it is necessary to give yet more time-off to students and teachers?

It is nothing short of ludicrous. It seems that with each new year there is some reason to reduce the time that students have for attending classes, soon the Ministry of Education will be paying teachers their salaries to stay home and we parents will have to embark on home schooling. The whole system needs looking at, as this tomfoolery is just encouraging indiscipline and slackness in our young people. No wonder this country is in the state it is in.

JOHN M LLOYD
Maraval