- Extended summer vacations can be expensive
Extended summer holidays for students in Lower Saxony can be costly. The fine for such an offense ranges from five to a maximum of 1,000 euros, as the Ministry of Education in Hannover informed the German Press Agency. In cases of negligent violations, a fine of up to 500 euros can be imposed. The new school year in Lower Saxony and Bremen begins on Monday.
The municipalities are responsible for enforcing this, acting on reports from schools. Legally, truanting – even during school holidays – is a public order offense.
A ministry spokeswoman stated that the statutory school attendance obligation is a high priority. This obligation applies before and after school holidays as well. "Parents should be aware of their role as positive examples if they intentionally and unjustifiably keep their children from school," the spokeswoman said.
Penalties for unauthorized holiday extensions have also been imposed in Bremen: These range from 35 to 250 euros, plus an administrative fee of 28.50 euros. According to current information, more than 150 penalty notices were issued for unauthorized holiday extensions in the school year 2023/24, compared to 141 in the previous school year.
The Ministry of Education emphasizes the importance of adhering to the statutory school attendance obligation, even during school holidays. Parents who intentionally and unjustifiably keep their children from school may face penalties for violating this obligation.
