Gujarat: Diwali vacation from October 29 to November 18

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) on Tueday announced that the Diwali vacation will be from October 29 to November 18 for all state board schools. At a time when schools are closed due to Covid-19 pandemic, all educational activities, including online classes will remain shut in this twenty-day vacation period, according to a GSHSEB statement.
Schools and colleges have been closed in the state for the last six months and many educational institutions are conducting online classes and exams.
The state government is yet to take a call on re-opening of schools after the Diwali vacation. State education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said recently that a decision in this regard will be taken soon, after consultation with various stakeholders including parents, students, school trustees, teachers and prominent educationists.
The minister said the most crucial opinion in reopening schools will be of the health department.
The minister said he will then discuss the issue with chief minister Vijay Rupani, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel and the entire cabinet before taking a final decision on reopening schools.
The Centre had in the recent ‘Unlock 5’ guidelines suggested re-opening schools from October 15 in a limited manner. The states have been given the authority to decide if they wanted to reopen schools or not. THe Gujarat government decided not to reopen schools from October 15.
In the last couple of months the state government has held few rounds of meetings with various stakeholders, some of who have suggested staggered attendance and calling students on alternate days.