College students to get a 5 day leave during Ganeshotsav

College students across the city will have an easier time celebrating Ganeshotsav, now that the University has decided to give a 5 day break for it. The leave will granted for the first five days of the festival.

On Wednesday, the academic council of Mumbai University announced that all University students, along with those who are studying in colleges affiliated with the varsity, will be given a 5 day break during Ganeshotsav. The festival, which ranges from 1.5 to 11 days, begins on September 5.

Earlier this week, MNS party’s student wing, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) had also demanded a similar leave for school students during the festival from the Maharashtra State Education Department.

“Most of the students go to their hometowns for Ganpati celebrations. If schools remain open during this time, the children lose out on academics. The schools can adjust the lost days in summer vacation,” claimed Sudhakar Tamboli of MNVS.

However, the department shunned the demand, claiming that it will be left to the school authorities to decide if they want to allot the leaves. MNVS had also asked education authorities to include the five day leave in the school calendar year to ensure the norm is followed during subsequent years. But, even that request is under consideration.

Some schools, like Indian Education Society in Dadar, give students a longer break during Ganeshotsav and make up for it with a smaller Christmas leave.

University Registrar M.A Khan also confirmed that other than the five day leave for Ganeshotsav, college students will also get a Christmas leave from December 25 to January 1.