Overview:
Three years after Palau’s public schools shifted to a year-round calendar, students, teachers, and parents remain divided over whether the new schedule truly supports learning and well-being. While some praise the shorter breaks for helping them “reset,” others say the fast-paced quarters and limited vacation time have made it harder to rest or prepare for the next grade.
By: Summer Kennard
KOROR, Palau — “The short breaks help us rest, but they also make the quarters feel rushed,” said a 15-year-old student, summing up the divided views among students, teachers, and parents three years after Palau’s public schools adopted a year-round academic calendar.
When the Ministry of Education introduced the new calendar in the 2022–2023 school year, the goal was to reduce teacher burnout and give students more chances to catch up on missed work. The traditional long summer vacation was replaced with shorter academic terms separated by two- to three-week intersessions.
Three years later, reactions remain mixed on whether the system truly supports learning and well-being.
Many students say they appreciate the frequent breaks, noting that the intersessions give them time to rest and “reset” before a new quarter. A 16-year-old student said the shorter breaks help prevent forgetting lessons learned. But others disagree. Several students said the breaks are too brief, leaving them wanting a longer vacation.
“The breaks are good for mental rest, but not enough to prepare for the next grade level,” said a 15-year-old junior, while some students described the shorter quarters as feeling “squeezed,” with heavier workloads and faster-paced lessons.
Views also vary on whether the intersessions help students academically. Some said the breaks allow them to make up missing assignments or recover from absences, while others saw little change. A 16-year-old sophomore said students with valid absences may benefit, “but many just look forward to the quarter ending rather than using the time productively.”
A senior suggested intersessions could be more effective if schools used them for tutoring or review sessions instead of treating them solely as time off.
Teachers share similar divisions. One high school teacher said intersessions provide valuable time for planning, but the shorter summer break makes it harder to rest or prepare for a new school year. Another teacher noted that the schedule blurs the line between instruction and rest, since teachers often spend their breaks grading exams, finalizing reports, or attending workshops.
Both teachers agreed that student performance depends more on individual motivation than on the calendar itself.
At the elementary level, one teacher said intersessions help organize lesson plans but leave little time to transition between grade levels. She observed that students often return from break more eager to socialize than to study, suggesting the shorter breaks may not always refresh them academically.
Parents have their own set of concerns, especially around family logistics. A mother of a sixth grader said it was initially difficult to find childcare during intersessions, though she later found a family arrangement. Another parent said the shorter summer break forced changes to family routines and vacation plans.
Parents of younger children also felt three weeks was not enough for their kids to rest or review lessons before starting a new grade.
As the year-round calendar enters its fourth year, Palau’s education community continues to weigh whether the balance between rest and rigor has been achieved—or if the system needs more time to adjust.