Holiday row: Mumbai schools want state government to get tough with political bullies

MUMBAI: Repeated instances of political outfits resorting to muscle-flexing tactics are worrying school managements. Schools are not only angry about being arm-twisted to follow the terms laid by politicians, but also worried about the effect such incidents have on schoolchildren. Many principals are hoping that the government will take a stricter stand in the matter.
“Every school has a list of government holidays issued by the Maharashtra government. The duty of the school is to adhere to these, and if that does not happen then regulatory bodies of schools should be allowed to take action, not political parties. It is unfair because parents and children are bothered by such activity,” said Vandana Lulla, principal of Podar International School in Santa Cruz (W).
She said that in cases like Monday’s, where local Shiv Sena cadres walked into the campus of BD Somani International School in Cuffe Parade and asked the management to shut the school for Ambedkar Jayanti, the police should have taken a stand.
Last year, MNVS members insisted that schools declare a four-day holiday for Ganeshotsav and got it approved by the school education department.
In the past, members from many political outfits have barged into schools and targeted the school principal or staff after receiving complaints from parents.
“Political parties need to stay away from schools and colleges; education is different from politics. Such incidents also put pressure on students, which is uncalled for,” said Carl Laurie, principal, Christ Church School, Byculla.
Principals also highlighted the need for better unity among schools from various boards. “Principals need to get together and fight against such cases. No outsiders should be allowed to walk into our campus and dictate terms to us,” said Rekha Shahani, principal of Kamla High School in Khar (W).
She also pointed at the need for the education department to come up with stricter terms against political parties targeting education institutes.