Mumbai school to hold exam on Sept 21 during Ganeshotsav, parents angry

The education department has received a complaint from parents, whose children study in a Byculla school in Mumbai, about exams being scheduled during Ganeshotsav on Monday.

The education department has received a complaint from parents, whose children study in a Byculla school in Mumbai, about exams being scheduled during Ganeshotsav on Monday. They said the school flouted the government rule that says the schools should avoid holding exams during religious festivals.

The parents said the school has scheduled an exam on September 21. The second unit test began on September 14, will go on till September 16 and resume after a short break on September 21.

“We are opposed to the exams being held during Ganpati festival. The school did not even ask us before scheduling the exams even though the new government rule requires it,” said a parent of a Class 9 student.

An inquiry will be conducted against the school for flouting the norm, said BB Chavan, in-charge deputy director of education, Mumbai region. “We received the complaint on Monday and will look into the matter,” he said.

Despite repeated attempts, the principal could not be contacted. The Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE), which governs the school, said they had directed all their schools to declare holidays from September 17 to 21.

“We had asked schools to stay shut for five days. We will follow up with them as to why that has not been done,” said Father Francis Swamy, joint-secretary of the ABE that runs 150-odd schools in Mumbai.