The Hindu : Half-day school on Fridays in Uttar Pradesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 20, 2004

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National

Half-day school on Fridays in Uttar Pradesh

By J P Shukla

LUCKNOW, FEB. 19. The Uttar Pradesh Government has directed educational institutions up to the intermediate level to function only for half a day on Fridays. The Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the decision, taken on the eve of the elections, was aimed at appeasing the minority community.

The directive, issued by the Principal Secretary (Education), Neera Yadav, gave no reasons for the decision, but asked the Directors of Basic and Secondary Education to ensure that educational institutions under their jurisdiction functioned only from 8 a.m. to 12 noon on Fridays.

The State BJP chief, Vinay Katiyar, alleged that the move was aimed at appeasing the Muslim students to allow them to attend Friday prayers.

The Mulayam Singh Yadav Government was bent upon communalising the education system, he said. Mr. Katiyar urged the Government to withdraw the order, otherwise his party would launch an agitation.If Muslim students were allowed such a concession to attend Friday prayers, his party would ask the Hindu students to go to school only after 12 noon on Tuesdays after recitation of "Hanuman Chalisa," he said.

The Leader of the Opposition, Lalji Tandon, accused the Government of playing with the future of students.

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