Probe into UP govt school curiously closing on Fridays

Deoria (UP), July 22

A probe was ordered against a government primary school in the state for following a peculiar practice of remaining closed on Fridays instead of Sundays, an official said today.

Acting on a complaint against the principal of the school in Navalpur in Deoria, district magistrate Sujit Kumar directed the basic shiksha adhikari (education officer) (BSA) Santosh Kumar Dev Pandey to probe the matter and take appropriate action.

“A report has been sought from the BSA regarding the closure of the school on Fridays. It is a serious issue that the school remains closed on Fridays instead of Sundays without any order or direction. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this,” Kumar said.

“The school will now remain closed on Sundays, and instructions have been issued to take action against the principal of the school... A detailed probe will be done,” he added. The complaint against principal, Khurshid Ahmad, was received by block education officer of Salempur block, Gyanchand Mishra, who then sent a team of two officers to the school.

“The officials reached the school on Friday at around 9.45 am. They found the school to be closed and Islamia primary school, Navalpur, was written outside the building instead of primary school, Navalpur,” Mishra said.

The block education officer then called up Ahmad who claimed that the practice was prevalent before he joined the school in 2008. “The principal’s claim about the practice being in existence before he joined will be probed as well,” Pandey said.

There are five teachers in the school, including Ahmad, and about 90 students. — PTI

Principal says Most students muslims 

Principal Khurshid Ahmad justified the practice arguing 95 pc of students were Muslims, hence, school remained closed on Fridays instead of Sundays, officials said. 

Name changed too 

Officials said the name outside the school read as Islamia primary school, Navalpur, instead of primary school, Navalpur.