Basel mulls moving the school holidays to protect students from summer heat
Michael Derrer Fuchs / Shutterstock.com
By Jan de Boer
Two cantons in Switzerland are debating postponing the start of school to better account for the weather. Officials in Cantons Basel-Stadt and Basel-Land argue that ending the school holidays in early August exposes teachers and students to excessively warm temperatures, which can damage the learning environment.
Basel school year could start in September under new plans
In a statement, the head of the State Department of Public Education in Basel confirmed that she and officials from the surrounding canton Basel-Land were discussing moving their school holidays. Speaking to 20 Minuten, Sandra Eichenberg announced that they “plan to contact Basel-Land and other cantons to explore whether the holidays can be distributed differently throughout the school year".
Like most cantons in German-speaking Switzerland, the summer holidays in Basel conclude at the beginning of August - on August 11 in 2025. Under the plans, lawmakers will consider postponing the start of school to either later in August or early September.
August heat having a profound impact on Basel schools
The reason for the move is due to the severe heat waves seen in Basel in recent years. In August 2024, for example, average temperatures in the city stood at 22,2 degrees celsius, the second hottest August on record and 2,5 degrees above the average between 1991 and 2020. Last year, there were 13 days in August when the mercury in Basel rose above 30 degrees.
These conditions have a major impact on the city’s largely un-airconditioned schools and classrooms. "In light of the climate and global warming, we need to make lessons manageable for students," Grand Councillor Brigitta Gerber told Jetzt. "I've noticed that we Basel residents go on holiday at the beginning of July – when it often rains – and then come back in August when it's particularly hot. I'm glad this is being reviewed now," colleague Sandra Bothe-Wenk added.
Others are not convinced: speaking to 20 Minuten, Basel-Land Teachers’ Association president Philipp Loretz argued that postponing holidays will not solve the problem. "It's not a truly relevant measure…We need both short- and long-term measures to combat the heat. If nothing is done, we will find ourselves in situations in the summer where effective learning will no longer be possible."
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Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more