School Holiday Today: Several schools in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana were closed on December 27 to mourn the passing of former Prime Minister of the country, Dr Manmohan Singh. Moreover, Himachal Pradesh educational institutes will remain closed till December 28 as part of a week-long state mourning. Meanwhile, the Haryana Education Department has issued orders that all schools in the state will have winter vacations from January 1 to January 15. The schools will reopen on January 16, 2025," an official statement read. Similarly, Jammu and Kashmir has also announced winter upto classes 5th from December 10, and for classes 6 to 12 from December 12. However, "The teaching staff of Government High and Higher Secondary Schools shall remain available at respective Headquarters from 10th of February, 2025 onwards for preparatory arrangements for the ensuing Board Examinations of class 10th, 11th and 12th," said Sakina Itoo, Minister of School/Hr Education, Health & Medical Education and Social Welfare, Government of J&K. Additionally, all teachers have also been ordered to remain available as required for any online guidance to students during vacation period. In Punjab, too, a week-long winter break was announced earlier by the education department. This break commenced on December 24 and will continue till December 31. The directive applies to all government, private-aided, and recognised schools in the state. Winter vacations for schools in Uttar Pradesh have not been announced yet. For Delhi, as per the academic calendar declared in March, the winter vacation will be from January 1 to 15, 2025.
