Government schools across Himachal Pradesh will remain closed on Monday, August 17, as a compensatory holiday for students and teachers who attended Independence Day celebrations on August 15. Private schools will decide independently whether to observe the holiday, officials said on Sunday.
The decision follows instructions issued by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday.
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Why government schools will remain closed on August 17
A notification issued by the Directorate of School Education on July 29 had directed all government schools in Himachal Pradesh to remain open on August 15 for Independence Day celebrations.
A subsequent notification issued late Saturday evening announced that August 17 would be observed as a holiday in all government schools. The decision was taken in view of the participation of students and teachers in Independence Day programmes held at school, subdivision, district and state levels.
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Private schools to decide on holiday
Private schools that conducted Independence Day celebrations on their premises or participated in state or district-level functions will be allowed to decide whether to observe a holiday on August 17.
The decision for private schools will be taken at their respective levels, according to the notification.
