I certainly don’t remember anybody at my school
disappearing for a fortnight’s holiday somewhere exotic, but then again I was
at primary school in the Seventies, so Brighton
was seen as somewhere exciting.
The story of Malala Yousafzai gave me food for thought
on this topic.
As you are no doubt aware, Malala had spoken out
against the Taliban in her homeland of Pakistan, had campaigned for three years
for a girl’s right to education, and had been shot in the head on her school
bus by the Taliban as a result.
This led me to then think about how we take for
granted the free education system we have for all in this country.
Whatever your gender, income, social status, religion
or national heritage, our children can go to school, free of charge, and be
educated.
We all need to make the most of the education system
on offer here – because there are children elsewhere in the world who are
literally dying for the same opportunities.
But having said this, I would like to add that I think
the holiday companies are also at fault in this scenario, and we shouldn't just
blame parents, many of whom are struggling financially during difficult
economic times.
Yes, I've heard the 'supply and demand' argument for
the huge variation in holiday prices, but it's truly disgusting how they
blatantly profiteer.
I saw evidence for myself recently how a break at a
well-known UK holiday park during October half-term was £300 more than the same
holiday, but taken a week later, when the children return to school.
Instead of the Government fining parents for holidays
in term time, could I suggest a better way of dealing with the problem would be
to make holiday companies reduce the vast difference in price?
Now, there's an idea Mr Gove...
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