Rajkot: Today is 31st October which is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary and a public holiday throughout the nation. However, in a different scenario, some private schools here in the city were found to be functioning. As the students were not given the public holiday the NSUI (student wing of the Congress party,) protested outside such schools and compelled these schools to close.

“Private schools in Rajkot have a pattern of remaining open on public holidays. We have received numerous complaints regarding this practice. Our schools teach the principles of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. On the birth anniversary of this freedom fighter, there is a public holiday, but students are still called to school, which has a negative impact on their mindset. Although there is a government circular that mandates the announcement of most festivals and the birth anniversaries of great personalities, private schools arbitrarily call students for classes on public holidays,” said NSUI leader Rohit Rajput in a statement to the media.

The student leader further stated that today, private schools in the city, including Dholakia School, Sarvodaya School, and North Star School, required students to attend classes even on this public holiday. We received complaints about this, and we reported it to the principals. The principals assured that school will immediately grant leave to the students.

The Rajkot district education officer (DEO) reacted to the matter and said, “I have communicated with all the officials in the area regarding this issue. Private schools that were open on public holidays should be closed immediately, and if any such mistake is repeated by private schools in the future, strict action will be taken against them.” DeshGujarat