How Long is Summer Break in Turkey?

Summer break in Turkey, also known as summer holidays, is a long vacation period that occurs between the spring and fall semesters of the academic year Typically lasting around 3 months, summer break is a cherished time for Turkish students and families

Overview of the Academic Year

The academic year in Turkey generally runs from mid-September to mid-June, spanning around 9 months. It is divided into two semesters, with a short winter break in February.

• First Semester: Mid-September to late January (around 4.5 months)
• Winter Break: 2 weeks in February
• Second Semester: Early February to mid-June (around 4.5 months)
• Summer Break: Mid-June to mid-September (around 3 months)

The long summer holiday follows the conclusion of the second semester exams in mid-June. Students and teachers get to enjoy this extended break before the next academic year begins in September.

Duration of Summer Holidays

The summer break in Turkey lasts for around 3 months, from mid-June to mid-September. The exact dates may vary slightly each year, but the holiday roughly spans 90 days.

This is significantly longer than the summer vacations in many other countries. For comparison

• USA: 10-11 weeks
• UK: 6-7 weeks
• France: 9 weeks
• Germany: 6 weeks

So Turkish students get to enjoy one of the longest summer breaks in the world!

Why Such a Long Summer Break?

There are a few reasons why the summer holiday period is so long in Turkey:

• Hot summers – Summers are extremely hot in most parts of Turkey, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C in July and August. Keeping schools open during the peak summer months would be unpleasant and impractical.

• Agricultural roots – Turkey has traditionally been an agricultural nation where summers were crucial for working in the fields and harvesting crops. Long school breaks enabled children to assist families during this busy period.

• Traditions – Extended summer holidays are customary in Turkey, so there is reluctance to reduce their length drastically. Long summer breaks are an entrenched part of the academic culture.

• Tourism – The summer period coincides with peak tourist season in Turkey. A long break allows families to travel domestically and boost the tourism economy.

While the origins of the 3-month break are deeply rooted, there have been some calls to shorten the holidays to align with global norms. But any changes to this beloved tradition face considerable public resistance.

How Students Spend Summer Break

The long summer holiday offers Turkish students plenty of time for rest, relaxation, and recreational activities. Here are some of the most popular ways students spend their summer break:

• Traveling – Most families take trips to Turkey’s beautiful beaches and tourist sites. The Turquoise Coast, Cappadocia, and Aegean/Mediterranean beaches are favorite destinations.

• Visiting relatives – It’s common to visit family members in hometowns and villages across Turkey during the summer months.

• Summer schools – Some students attend academic summer schools or camps, especially to improve foreign language skills like English.

• Working – Older students may take on summer jobs, such as working at stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. to earn pocket money.

• Catching up on hobbies – Students get time to enjoy hobbies like sports, arts, reading, video games, and more.

• Relaxing – Many students simply relax, meet friends, and enjoy the break after an intense academic year.

The long break is meant for rejuvenation. Students return refreshed and ready to hit the books again in September!

Benefits of Long Summer Break

While the 3-month summer holiday seems excessive by some standards, it does come with several benefits:

• Students get ample time to rest and relieve stress accumulated during academic terms. This helps avoid burnout.

• Families can spend quality time together through vacations, trips, etc.

• Students can participate in constructive extra-curricular activities like summer schools, camps, internships etc. to enrich their skills and experiences.

• Teachers also recuperate and prepare teaching plans/materials for the next semester.

• The break alignments with peak tourist season, providing a boost to Turkey’s tourism economy.

• Agriculture still plays a role in Turkey, so students can assist families in rural areas during the harvest season.

• School infrastructure gets maintenance to ensure readiness for upcoming academic year.

Thus, though debatable, the long break does serve some valuable purposes in the Turkish context.

Changes to Summer Holiday Length

In recent years, there has been some debate around shortening the summer holidays in Turkey. Primary reasons include:

• Concerns about long academic disruption and learning loss
• Desire to conform with global norms of 6-8 week summer breaks
• Reducing holiday costs for families
• Better aligning with working parents’ annual leaves.

Proposals have included reducing the break by a few weeks or switching to a 5-term academic year.

However, these suggestions have always been met with strong public opposition. The long vacation is sacred for Turkish families, and any changes would be highly controversial. The deep cultural roots mean summer break will likely retain its 3-month duration for the foreseeable future.

Summer School to Bridge the Gap

For families that feel the long break results in knowledge loss or boredom, summer schools are a popular option. These academic programs run through summer to keep students intellectually engaged.

Summer school attendance has surged over the past decade, though remains optional. Subjects like English, math, science, and coding are commonly offered at summer schools in Turkey. Some parents may enroll children for only part of the break.

While summer school helps ensure learning continuity, most Turkish students still see summer break as sacrosanct leisure time before the next year’s studies commence.

The 3-month summer holiday is a cherished tradition in Turkey, with strong cultural underpinnings. Though debatably long, it offers benefits like rest, family bonding, and alignment with tourism season. While some seek to shorten the break, summer remains a laid-back hiatus from school for most Turkish students. They return refreshed and recharged for another academic year.