Mumbai : After scores of requests pouring in from various religious groups and political parties for school holidays on their respective important days of religious activities, the state education department passed the burden of decision to the respective schools and Parents and Teacher Association (PTA).
After Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s request for five-day a holiday for Ganesh Utsav in the city, several religious and political organisations have forwarded similar request to the education department. Education department officials said that it was very difficult to announce fixed dates of holidays on religious days.
As per the Right to Education (RTE) it is imperative to have 230 academic days and the holidays cannot exceed 73 days in an academic calendar year. The state education department in the GR asked the schools and PTA to manage the academic days and holidays. It further instructed that proposed holiday should not disturb academic system which includes classes, examination and unite tests.
It has also given the option to the schools allowing their students of particular religions to take holidays as per their festival calendar. It also has added that the school management and PTA should ensure that the lost academic days of the students are compensated as well as tests are held separately for such students if they took festival related holidays during the exam period.