This is the second week of the Northern Territory schools break between term three and four.

A good number of years ago, between 2012 and 2016, the then Country Liberal Party Education Minister Peter Chandler understood that not everybody was wrapped with the way the school holidays were shaped within the territory.

We had six weeks at Christmas time, one week between term one and two, four weeks between semester one and semester two, and just one week between term three and term four.

There were no public holidays between the beginning of August and Christmas Day. At the end of term three, people had a little time to wind down before having to crank up for the start of term a week later.

Teachers, students, and those connected with school-based education suffered from fatigue that the weeks break Did not dissipate.

Perceiving this disaffection, Minister Chandler undertook research that suggested different modelling for the territory school holiday breaks.

Several models were proposed and Territorians asked to comment. After consultation the decision made was to change the 6-1-4-1 model to a 6-1-3-2 model.

A week was taken from the mid-semester break (four weeks back to three) and a week added to the break between terms three and four (from one week to two).

This change occurred during Minister Chandler’s time as Education Minister in the Mills/Giles CLP Government between 2012 and 2016.

Hence this extra week has been dubbed “The Chandler Week”.

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