Holidays are for taking timeout from regular hectic schedule, whether it is a child or an adult. During holidays children should be given assignments like visiting different places and writing about the experiences or something creative apart from their regular work that they are doing in their schools.

— Pratik Khadka

Vacations are synonymous to fun and relaxation for most of us. We love eating, sleeping, watching TV and at times we do indulge in doing something creative. But then teachers’ homework acts as an obstacle to live freely for a month. Teachers provide us with homework because they know that after the vacation, normal studies will be severely hampered if we live such a carefree life during the vacation. So I feel teachers should provide students with both creative and course related homework during the vacation but in limited amount so that students can take some timeout for themselves.

— Sadikshya Thapa, St Mary’s college

I think holidays are for fun and to spend time together with the family. If one is given loads of homework during the holidays then he may be bored and frustrated by the studies because he can’t play with friends. Holidays should be for creative work like painting, reading storybooks, et cetera.

— Razan Thapa,

Lokanthali, Bhaktapur

Holidays are meant only for enjoyment — this is what many students generally think. But it is always important that they remain on par with their studies. Students are provided with homework during holidays so that they don’t lose interest in their studies and don’t remain idle. To make sure that the students are not bored, it is imperative that they are assigned some interesting tasks that are fun and engaging. Teachers can assign activities such as describing the most interesting movie they watched, the most exciting games they played during the holidays, collect IQ’s, paint their imagination et cetera. These things not only help the students’ process of learning, but also help them reinvigorate their creativity to enhance their ability. This sort of practise might actually make holidays enjoyable, fruitful and in addition keep students fresh.

— Abhishesh Wagle

Yes, it’s true that children do not get more free time even during holidays to have fun because of their boring assignments. Giving children creative work for holidays as their assignments is a good option for children and teachers as well. Children will become more excited and interested in their studies and they also get opportunities to sharpen their skills. Secondly, if the children are given such assignments then they can relax their mind away from bulky books. They become more active, happy and they also get lots of new experiences, ideas, feelings, et cetera. Therefore, giving children creative tasks for holidays is one of the best ways to enhance their talent.

— Roshan Shrestha

Children study almost the whole year so they must also be given some free time. This will help them freshen their mind and they won’t get bored at all. It is better to provide children with some creative work in their holidays rather than giving them homework. It may help them increase their inner knowledge by doing some creative work of their own.

— Nim Doma Tamang

During holidays, children should be involved in different creative activities. When they have so much homework to do, their only intention is how to finish the homework. If we give extra activities then they will learn how to utilise time. If they have too much free time during the holidays they won’t be able to cope up with studies when the school starts. So, we should keep them occupied.

— Puneswori Kayastha

I agree that holidays are meant for fun and relaxation. Children go to school for six days a week — carrying heavy load of books and getting too much homework. So, if there is a day off let the children enjoy the day or else give them some creative work that may help to increase their knowledge. Plus, they may enjoy doing such tasks. Like drawing anything they love most, collecting any national or international news from newspapers, sharing in classroom what knowledgeable programme they watched in TV (which may help child to enhance presentation skill) et cetera. I think we should also give them space to do new creative work on their own and encourage them to develop their inborn skills instead of pressurising them with loads of homework.

— Ratna Shrestha

There is no denying that holidays are meant for fun and relaxation. I think children should be given other creative works instead of giving homework. In fact, children get homework almost everyday therefore it will be paltry giving homework on holidays. They should either be given a chance to do different activities besides the monotonous routine they follow or provided with an opportunity to explore their hidden talents. For instance, a child might be keen on drawing but s/he might not have managed to devote time towards it. So, holidays will be the perfect time for these budding talents. In addition to this, when a child is into what s/he is interested in then success is more likely to be achieved.

— Aakangchhya Bhusal

Tahachal

Holidays are meant to refresh students so that they can get rid of their monotonous work. Holidays are meant for enjoyment and to increase their creativity but they are mostly loaded with bulks of homework that seems never ending. Being a school student I always wait for holidays but it seems to be in vain as I will be spending most of my time doing my written assignments. I often question, ‘Is this the holiday I have been waiting for?’ In my opinion every child does not become a genius by just doing home assignments and being a bookworm. There are many more things that are learnt from experiences and not by mugging up things. Creativity and practical knowledge are far more important in building up a child’s career. Hence, instead of overloading students with piles of homework they should be given projects that are based on creativity and they will enjoy doing.

— Merina Shakya,

AVM High School

I think students should be given creative works rather than lots of homework. I usually see students getting involved in writing essays and doing exercises which they have already done in class. So, what they do is just copy the exercises and essays. Hence, I think such work is not beneficial for their creativeness. Students cannot be creative unless they do things that they really like which will help them broaden their mind. So, instead of giving tonnes of homework they should be given group works like making documentaries, paper presentations, collecting data on serious issues, etc. Or students should not be given holidays and they should be given trainings and classes in dance, music, social works, creative works, drawing, games , painting and whatever they like or have interest in.

— Abhinav Jha,

Dhobighat

Holiday means getting away from routine work and having fun, enjoying and being free from stress. It’s natural that when children are in school they feel monotonous with their regular studies and homework. If they are given homework in vacations too there is no difference for them between school days and off days. Hence, it is better to give them different tasks and activities through which they can have fun and enjoy, this may also help in their personal growth and capacity building. These sorts of activities help them to explore their creative side. They will get an opportunity to learn new things through their own experiences besides what is there in the course books.

— Nepalichori

I feel students should be creative and be able to explore themselves in other fields also besides studies. Though studies are an important part of life and should be given high priority even creativity should be given equal emphasis. As a student, I would prefer it if teachers gave students projects which requires them to use their imagination and creativity. We don’t have a system of doing projects in our curriculum especially in school level. I think holidays can be utilised for such activities which will be fun and a learning experience as well. This can also help to strengthen bonds between parents and students.

— Ruchee Bansal

Holiday is a time to learn something new. Homework is done everyday and students are bored of always doing homework. So during holidays, they should be allowed to do some creative works like handicraft, learning music, dancing, singing, drawing and others, so that they can enjoy and utilise their holidays properly. Even parents can take their children to different beautiful historical places, parks, natural sites, temples, museums, so that they can learn something from it and utilise their time in a good way. It helps to develop their mind and refreshes them. The work should be creative and the children should be able to have fun too. It also depends upon the parents how they guide their children to spend time wisely. At least during holidays students should be free from burden of homework.

— Suja Dulal

Yes, I think children should be given homework. As it will help them manage the time in the right way. They have to play but study is also important for them. With homework they will get extra knowledge about many things.

— Mona

I think they should be provided with creative works so that they can increase their creative capability and can broaden their mind as homeworks are always done on a daily basis. Yes, it is right to give them homework but not for long vacations. I think children should be given creative works, so that they can boost their creativity.

— Simaran Thapa, Kusunti, Lalitpur

Holidays are meant for fun and relaxation but the method of giving homework is also correct cause some students will be so naughty that they won’t revise even once which will make them forget almost everything they have studied throughout the year. I am not saying that it is right to give homework, which covers many days of our vacations. Teachers will also have to understand and give less homework at least only 10 or 15 questions and not only to write but practical works too such as visiting zoo, going to bridhashram, charity work, writing the summary of a film et cetera. If teachers will give theory as well as practical work then the students will also have fun.

— Shraddha Prasai

I think it would be better if children are given some creative work, which includes study matters as well. Holidays are truly meant for fun and children should enjoy their vacations. My younger brother is doing homework all the time whether it is school days or vacation and he always complains that he gets so tired. I myself being a teacher think that whether they are studying or playing they should have fun. We should be able to think about them when we are with them.

— Sarita Shrestha, Katunje, Bhaktapur

Homework, which is all about writing should most certainly not be assigned to children during the holidays because children are bound to get bored. Holidays are about getting away from bulky books after a long semester. Signing them up for camps would be much better than homework. As for schoolwork, projects and presentations should be assigned rather than other things. But perhaps the best option is admitting them to lessons that develop the talent and skills they have. After all, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’

— Shreepriya Poudel, Kathmandu

I agree that children should be given creative works rather than giving them homework. Lots of homework only gives them tension that means if children can’t complete their homework they will be punished later. And if they are given creative works of their own choice and is of their interest it will not be burden to them and will also make them creative.

— Gayatri Basnet

Day to day rote learning, mugging up lessons, attending class, submitting homework, doing assignments are not the only part of student life. They should be encouraged as well to bring out their creativity during holidays instead of overwhelming them with homework. They can do project work, poem writing, painting, stamp collection, picture collection as hobby. This too can help them choose suitable field in the future. After all with these activities they can have fresh start when classes resume with great enthusiasm, agility and in an efficient way.

— Shankar Raj

Lamichhane