In the new school calendar, the Bihar government shortens the Diwali, Chhath, and Durga Puja vacations

In order to enhance the number of working days required under the Right to Education Act, the Bihar government’s Education Department released a revised holiday calendar for state-run schools, shortening the breaks for Chhath Puja, Diwali, and Durga Puja.

According to the calendar published in a notice on Tuesday, there will only be 11 festive holidays between September and December, down from 23.

According to authorities, the government requested the district education officers (DEOs) to declare extra holidays with approval from the Education Department in order to promote consistency across the state.

Valentine’s Day ‘Restricted’ or ‘optional’ holiday status for August 31 has already been established, they said.

They said that the government’s move to cut down on vacations is only one of several measures it has implemented to improve the state’s educational standards.

The duration of the Durga Puja vacations has been reduced from the previous six days to three, and just one day will be designated as a holiday for each of Diwali, Chitragupta Puja, and Chhath Puja. According to the announcement, schools enjoyed a nine-day break prior to Diwali from Chhath Puja.

Classes I through V (primary) are required to have 200 working days and classes VI through VIII (upper primary/middle) are required to have 220 working days every academic year, according to the Right to Education Act of 2009. However, it said, “Academic activities in schools are impacted by elections, political activities, festivals, problems with law and order, hiring processes, disaster management efforts, etc.

In addition, holidays vary widely throughout the state. The agency has now decided to update the list of holidays for the remaining academic days in primary and middle schools in the state, keeping in mind the aforementioned concerns, especially consistency in holidays,” it said.

But the decision has set up a political brawl between the BJP, which is in opposition, and the Mahagathbandhan, which is in power.

The decision to shorten the vacations, according to the BJP, was made against Hindus’ interests.

“There is an extreme level of anarchy inside the Education Department. According to BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should immediately revoke the anti-Hindu decree.

The RJD, a member of the Mahagathbandhan, claimed that the order was correct.

“The decision to cut down on vacations was made with the intention of giving government schools more working days. Nothing is wrong with it. The BJP, which opposes providing high-quality education to youngsters in schools, is needlessly attempting to give it a political flavor, according to RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwary, who spoke to PTI.