BRASILIA: Brazil is ready to reorganise the school holidays in 2014, timing them to coincide with the World Cup, to ease the risk of transport problems during its hosting of the finals writes KEIR RADNEDGE.

Congressmen have been debating the proposal from special commission which has been considering all aspects of the so-called World Cup Law which should provide the legal foundation for the tournament, incorporating all the essential government guarantees.

The commission has proposed making an earlier-than-usual start to the school year on January 20 with 40 days of holiday between June 10 and July 21. The one-off switch would apply to both public and private schools.

The Opening Match takes place in Sao Paulo on June 12 with the Final in the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

The Education Ministry has already given a green light to the proposal because the school year would still maintain the statutory 200-plus days with 800-plus hours of teaching. Turning the World Cup into school holiday time will also end concerns about increased truanting during the finals by football-mad youngsters intent of watching all the games live or on television.