- These fines threaten school dropouts.
One or two days can make a difference of several hundred euros: Families that start their summer vacation earlier or extend it beyond its end often travel cheaper. Apart from the fact that the nerves of the parents are spared - fewer traffic jams mean shorter travel times and less stress. However, this is a double-edged sword: Parents of truants may face high fines.
Unauthorized absence from school is a violation of the law. In North Rhine-Westphalia, fines of between 300 and 1,000 euros are imposed for this. According to the Regional Government of Düsseldorf, this fine applies to each parent responsible for the child for each school-age child in the family. This type of special vacation and repeat offenses are "particularly heavily weighted" in the assessment, said a spokeswoman for the Regional Government of Münster in a survey by the German Press Agency.
Schools report absences, municipalities take action
In Lower Saxony, the new school year begins on Monday - those who are not back from vacation in time risk a fine of between 5 and 1,000 euros, according to the Ministry of Culture. In case of negligent violations, a fine of up to 500 euros can be imposed. Schools report these absences, and the municipalities take action.
In Bremen, which has also reached the end of the summer vacation, fines of between 35 and 250 euros plus an administrative fee of 28.50 euros are threatened.
Rhineland-Palatinate has set a fine of up to 1,500 euros for continued violations of the school attendance obligation, with the Ministry of the Interior of the state making it clear that the maximum amount "is used for cases of particularly stubborn school refusal." Children may also face so-called school disciplinary measures, ranging from a written reprimand to expulsion from school.
It won't be noticed - or will it?
Authorities are sometimes sensitized to investigate children traveling at conspicuous times. For example, the airport in Memmingen, Bavaria, regularly reports checks just before the start of the holidays. In February 2024, just before the winter holidays, officials caught several school-age and sick children traveling. Police reports state that school authorities were informed and the parents were reported.
A brazen case recently made the rounds at the end of the school year: Border police officers in Memmingen stopped a 30-year-old woman with her seven-year-old daughter two days before the start of the holidays. The mother claimed that she had to travel due to a death and that the school knew about it - a lie. The officers called the named school, but the seven-year-old did not attend it.
A call to the correct school eventually revealed that the child was absent due to illness. The result: The mother may face a fine of up to 1,000 euros, as reported by the police.
School attendance and role model function
Schools can be very strict about these last and first days of school: The legally anchored school attendance obligation is a high good, explains a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Culture of Lower Saxony. This obligation applies just as much before the start of school holidays and afterwards. "In cases of deliberate but unfounded absence from school, parents should also be aware of their role model function."
Not everyone follows this: In Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, around 2,000 proceedings related to holidays were initiated by the regional governments last year. This was the result of a survey by the German Press Agency among the responsible middle-level authorities.
The numbers may be significantly higher: Not all fines issued for unauthorized extension of holidays are reflected in the statistics. Procedures for primary and secondary schools, as well as a large portion of special needs schools, are not included as they are managed by local school authorities.
In Bremen, the federal state with the smallest population, more than 150 fines for unauthorized holiday extension were issued in the last school year 2023/24. The previous school year saw 141 such fines.
Travel is not a valid reason for absence
Absences from school are generally possible - through an application and for a valid reason, as stated in Rhineland-Palatinate. School principals decide at their discretion when such a valid reason exists, for example, the funeral of a family member.
"A booked holiday trip that starts before or ends after the holidays is usually not a 'valid reason'", explains a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior. In cases of sickness and doubts about the accuracy of the information provided by parents, a certificate - in rare cases even from an independent medical officer - may be required.
For North Rhine-Westphalia, it is stated in a decree by the Ministry of Education: "A student may only be absent immediately before and after the holidays if the absence is clearly not intended to extend the school holidays, take advantage of cheaper holiday tariffs, or avoid possible traffic peaks."
Parents should be mindful of the school attendance obligation, even during holidays. Unauthorized extension of holidays can result in fines, just like missing the beginning or end of the school year. For instance, in North Rhine-Westphalia, families may face fines of up to 1,000 euros per child for unauthorized holidays during school term. [Holidays] are important, but it's crucial to ensure that children attend school as required by law.
