Nicola Grant Workers Party Representative for Newry and Armagh poses question on school Ski Trips and their Educational Value.
Ms Grant commenting on an article in the press over the weekend on school skiing trips to Italy and the prohibitive costs associated with them from a parent with four children in the same school in Portadown area. Ms Grant said this raised a number of very valid concerns, £1500 for a school trip to ski and then pay for the appropriate clothes and lunches, is out of reach for most working class families especially if they have more than one child at the same school. Another parent from the Dungannon area said she believed £1500 was reasonable, and she pays it over fourteen months.
Paying over fourteen months works out at just over £100 a month. Ms Grant said in response to this point, that a £100 per month for a school trip, to most low-income families, would be the difference between eating, heating, and providing clothing for the family. Especially as we are living through a-cost-of-living crisis.
Ms Grant said it is time schools stopped organising such expensive trips, and questioned the educational value of skiing trips, as well as the stresses they put on children and families who cannot avail of such costly activities. Every parent wants the best possible opportunity for their children, but growing numbers of parents are raising their concerns.
The parent from Portadown raised a particularly important question around family holidays during the cheaper options which usually falls during term time. Her only possibility for a family holiday is in May when she has a week of work and holidays are cheaper.
Ms Grant continued but she says if she takes her children out of school for a week, she will get a letter from the school and may end up with a fine. This parent goes on to say what is the difference between her taking her children on holiday for a week, and the school taking the children out of school for a week on a ski trip. This is a crucial point and a valid one. It is time for schools to stop such trips, as they have no real educational value, and places a financial burden on families that can ill afford to pay for them.
Schools should be able to organise educational trips that are less expensive and opens a an equal playing field for all children. It is certainly worth considering as schools are part of the community and should understand the levels of poverty and multiple deprivations, that exists within their school communities.