Gujarat primary schools will observe a 21-day Diwali vacation from November 5 to 25, with classes scheduled to resume on November 26 for the second academic term, according to a circular issued by the Directorate of Primary Education.
The schedule applies to primary schools across the state. The circular has been sent to district education officers, district primary education officers and administrative officers, who have been instructed to communicate the vacation dates to schools and related teacher-training institutions under their jurisdiction.
The Directorate has asked district authorities to coordinate the vacation schedule so that the dates remain uniform across primary and secondary schools. The instruction is intended to provide a common academic calendar for schools during the Diwali break.
Officials have also been directed to inform government and grant-in-aid teacher-training institutes, pre-primary teacher-training institutes, self-financed Primary Teachers’ Certificate colleges and schools operating in their respective areas. The circular therefore covers not only primary schools but also institutions involved in preparing teachers for school education.
Primary schools will reopen on November 26, marking the beginning of the second term. The circular does not provide additional details about changes to examinations, assessments or other school activities during the vacation period.
First-year students at teacher-training institutes will begin academic activities on November 19, six days before primary schools reopen. According to the circular, the schedule is designed to allow these students to complete the prescribed number of working days under National Council for Teacher Education norms.
The timing creates a separate academic schedule for first-year teacher-training students while the wider school vacation remains in force. District education officials and institutional administrators will be responsible for communicating and coordinating the arrangements.
The Directorate’s directions place district-level education offices at the centre of implementing the calendar. District education officers, district primary education officers and administrative officers have been asked to ensure that government, grant-in-aid, self-financed and teacher-training institutions receive the schedule.
Schools across Gujarat are expected to follow the announced dates, with the second academic term beginning on November 26. First-year teacher-training activities are scheduled to start earlier, on November 19, to meet the working-day requirements set under NCTE norms.
