The Bihar Education Department’s move to reduce the festival holidays from 23 to 11 during September-December in government schools citing the Right to Education Act (RTE) has triggered a controversy. Twelve such holidays have been cancelled and the change has been implemented for the remaining days of 2023.
BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Holidays of Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath Puja have been cancelled by the education department of Bihar government. Tomorrow it is possible that Sharia will be implemented in Bihar and there will be a ban on celebrating Hindu festivals.”
An Education Department notification on Tuesday evening said that to enhance the quality of the education in the schools, the number of holidays was being reduced as per the Right to Education Act 2009 between September and December 2023.
