Organizations File Memorandum Over Holiday Disputes
Hindu organizations in Karnataka have urged the state’s School Education Department to take strict action against private schools that they allege are violating government holiday orders. SriRama Sena-Karnataka and Hindu Jana Jagruti Vedike submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Director of School Education in Ramanagara and Bengaluru South districts on Monday, seeking enforcement of the official holiday schedule.
The groups claim that while the state government declared a 19-day holiday for schools and colleges from October 3 to October 21 on the occasion of Dasara, some private institutions are conducting regular classes and examinations during this period. The organizations allege these schools are instead providing breaks in December, coinciding with Christmas.
SriRama Sena-Karnataka district president Paramesh Gowda K. alleged that the practice affects Hindu religious sentiments. He stated that certain private educational institutions deny Dasara holidays to provide longer breaks during Christmas, a claim the organizations have been protesting for the past three years.
Government Order vs. School Operations
The government’s directive established a specific window for the Dasara festival, intended to allow students to spend time with their families and understand the state’s cultural heritage. The organizations argued that conducting classes and examinations during this holiday period creates unnecessary pressure on students and defeats the purpose of the declared break.
Despite objections and complaints from parents and the public, the groups stated that some private schools continued regular operations in violation of the government order. They urged the Education Department to initiate strict action against educational institutions that fail to adhere to the holiday schedule.
Management Association Responds
D. Shashikumar of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) opposed the demand, calling it "totally wrong." He stated that private schools must follow prescribed syllabi and operate for 245 working days as per rules.
Shashikumar noted that private and unaided schools have discretion to declare holidays based on teaching requirements. He explained that this flexibility allows institutions to potentially reduce holidays by a week to provide them in December. Additionally, he pointed out that CBSE and ICSE schools follow their own academic structures, which may differ from state government directives.