Hindu outfits seek action against private schools over Dasara holiday row

Bengaluru: Hindu organisations in Karnataka have demanded government action against private schools accused of holding classes and examinations during the state-notified Dasara vacation and offering the break later in December.

SriRama Sena-Karnataka and the Hindu Jana Jagruti Vedike submitted representations to the Deputy Directors of School Education in Ramanagara and Bengaluru South, calling for the enforcement of the government’s holiday schedule.

The groups said schools and colleges were officially scheduled to remain closed for 19 days, from October 3 to October 21, for Dasara. They alleged that some private institutions were disregarding the notification and continuing academic activities despite objections from parents and the public.

According to the organisations, Dasara was not merely a holiday but an important part of Karnataka’s cultural heritage. They said the vacation was intended to give students an opportunity to celebrate the festival with their families and understand its significance.

The organisations argued that conducting examinations during the break was placing students under avoidable stress and undermining the purpose of the government’s decision.

SriRama Sena-Karnataka district president Paramesh Gowda K. alleged that the issue also affected Hindu sentiments. The organisations claimed that certain private schools did not provide a proper break for Dasara but instead scheduled a longer vacation around Christmas.

They said they had been raising the issue for the past three years and urged the Education Department to initiate action against schools that failed to follow the official calendar.

The demand was opposed by D. Shashikumar of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), who called it “totally wrong”.

Shashikumar said private and unaided schools had to complete the prescribed curriculum within the required number of working days. As a result, individual institutions could adjust their holiday schedules based on their academic plans.

“Private schools will declare holidays according to their syllabus and teaching requirements. Some institutions may reduce the holidays by a week and provide them during December,” he said.

He added that schools could decide the number of holidays for local festivals, with three or four days generally being granted depending on the circumstances.

Shashikumar also pointed out that CBSE and ICSE institutions followed separate academic calendars and timetables.

“The Education Department is not a dictator. Schools are required to function for 245 days as per the rules,” he said.

(Inputs from IANS)