THE Ministry of Education should consider giving school children extra "holidays" after Carnival Tuesday because of the poor turnout in schools.

This suggestion was made yesterday by president of the National Primary Schools Principal Association, Abzal Abdool, who said it may be beneficial to both teachers and pupils if the week was given.

Some have suggested that the ministry approve the entire week off, and instead of the eight weeks vacation after the third school term, seven weeks should be granted.

The Education Ministry on Wednesday issued a press release stating that the low turnout in schools throughout the country was unacceptable. In some education districts, there was a turnout of approximately 25 per cent.

When asked by the Express if he agreed with the suggestion of a mid-term Carnival vacation, Abdool said, "I think it may be beneficial in terms of productivity because you are practically losing two weeks around this time so one of those two weeks could be used as vacation and otherwise. I may agree to take one of the weeks and make it a vacation."

He added, "We can look at it increasing or minimising the loss of contact time for children."

President of the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA), Zena Ramatali, said Ash Wednesday should be made a holiday. She said the NPTA had suggested allowing children to take the week off last year and the organisation was criticised for it.

"We are saying that the Wednesday can be used for all teachers to come out and use the day for professional development and the students return to school on Thursday and Friday where teaching and learning will take place. It is a cultural problem that we are trying to solve. Every year, we try to see how to solve it so the time has come for all stakeholders to come together to see how we can unfreeze this cultural problem."

Minister in the Ministry of Education Clifton De Coteau said yesterday that "the relevant stakeholders should dialogue on this. I think the suggestion merits some degree of conversation".