Ahmedabad: In a surprising turn of events, multiple private and CBSE-affiliated schools in Ahmedabad were found functioning on Mahavir Jayanti, a day declared as a public holiday by the Gujarat state government. This move drew sharp criticism from parents and the public, as many believed it showed a lack of respect toward religious and cultural values. Because much of schools have given Holiday on this event but some of the schools didn’t declared any holiday notice to the students.
Prominent schools such as Anand Niketan, Divine Gurukul, and Maharaja Agrasen remained open and conducted regular classes, even though Mahavir Jayanti is listed among the official holidays that educational institutions must observe. Taking swift action, the District Education Officer (DEO) issued notices to these schools, demanding a valid explanation as to why they were operational on a not-given holiday. The DEO stated that these actions were a clear violation of state education norms and that the schools may face disciplinary measures if a satisfactory response is not received.
The article also highlights how such pratices could create unnecessary stress for students and parents, especially when public expectations are aligned with official state calendars. It noted that reiglious holidays suc as Mahavir Jayanti should be respected and observed across all schools, regardless of their board affiliations.
Furthermore, the education authorities have called for a meeting with the management of these institutions to review their policies and ensure such violations do not occur in the future. The incident has sparked a wider debate about the regulatory compliance in private educational institutions and the roles of education officers in monitoring school operations.
