Justin Donovan described the practice as ‘simply unacceptable’ after new figures revealed that a fifth of pupil absences in the last year were due to parents taking their children on holiday.
He added that his department was considering whether school term times in Jersey should be revised, so that they are different from the UK – a move which could help parents with travel costs.
A public consultation on whether term dates should be revised in Jersey is due to be held next year, Mr Donovan said.
‘I understand why parents want to do it but it is unacceptable,’ Mr Donovan said. ‘It puts pressure and difficulty on teachers and the other children in the classroom when they have to re-teach what was taught while they were away.
Full story in Saturday’s JEP.
