Maharashtra Schools May Close for 3 Days Ahead of Elections; Education Department Issues Circular

Pune, 14th November 2024: Voting for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Elections is scheduled for 20th November. In light of this, the Education Department of the Government of Maharashtra has directed the Education Commissioner to advise school principals on whether to close schools on 18th, 19th, and 20th November, particularly if it is not feasible to hold classes due to teachers’ election duties.

Given the heightened activity around the assembly elections, teachers will be heavily involved in election duties, including the voting process. Moreover, many polling stations are located in schools, and election authorities will take control of these schools to prepare for polling.

In this context, the Education Commissionerate proposed to the Education Department that schools be granted holidays on 18th, 19th, and 20th November. As a result, Tushar Mahajan, Deputy Secretary of the School Education Department, issued a circular to the Education Commissioner. The circular emphasised that to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2024 Vidhan Sabha elections, schools should remain closed where teachers’ election duties prevent classes from taking place.

Former headmaster Mahendra Ganpule noted that with most teachers engaged in election work, educational activities in schools would be disrupted. Additionally, some schools will serve as polling stations, requiring additional preparations. Given these circumstances, he justified the decision to close schools and grant holidays. He recommended that school management and local authorities make decisions based on the specific situation in their areas, while advising that granting leave all at once may not be ideal.