By Tag Clar Editorial
As the summer holidays approach, many families are trying to plan their travel. However, traveling early for school-aged children can lead to serious problems.
Strict rules in Berlin and Brandenburg
According to existing regulations in Berlin and Brandenburg, regular attendance of children at school is mandatory, and this includes the last days before the holidays. Parents are responsible for this attendance and may face heavy fines if not complied with. In Berlin, the summer holidays begin on July 9 and continue until August 22.
Educational authorities in Berlin have explicitly stated that requests for leave for travel close to the holidays will not be easily approved, except in special and justifiable circumstances. For example, essential trips that cannot be made at another time may be considered. However, recreational trips or changing travel dates for financial reasons will never be accepted as a valid excuse.
Consequences of financial penalties
According to the regulations, unexcused absences from school can be considered an administrative offense, and parents may face fines of up to 2500 euros. In Berlin, fines are calculated based on the number of days absent and can quickly increase.
Given the police checks at airports and train stations, families need to be mindful of these rules. In recent years, the police have randomly checked families with school-aged children. Here, absence reports from schools are sent to the relevant authorities.
