Schools to be closed on Dec 25, says Irani

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15

The government today said though the CBSE had decided to hold an essay competition on Christmas to mark the birthday of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pt Madan Mohan Malviya as the Good Governance Day, all schools will remain closed on December 25.

“All schools will remain closed on December 25. The essay competition is voluntary and online,” said HRD Minister Smriti Irani. She was responding to media reports suggesting that Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas run by the Navodaya Vidyalava Samiti and CBSE schools could remain open on December 25.

The matter was raised in Lok Sabha during Zero Hour by Congress’ KC Venugopal who demanded a clarification from the government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu later said the essay competition was online and voluntary and the CBSE had issued no circular to any schools asking it to remain open.

The HRD Ministry issued a clarification denying media reports and said CBSE schools will follow the vacation schedule, including a holiday on December 25. “CBSE instructions are to conduct an online essay competition on December 24 and 25 which is voluntary. ,” it said.