Delhi government has ordered shutting down of schools in the national capital for 15 days from January 1 during the trial period of odd-even vehicle formula and would run the school buses under the DTC fleet.

"To make the new Scheme functional with least disturbance to our children and also to augment public transport during the 'Odd Even Scheme' days, the government has decided to declare holidays for all schools from January 1 to 15 and also to procure the services of school buses for the requirement of DTC at notified rates," an official notification by Directorate of Education (DoE) said.

"This order may result in some deviation to the number of school days prescribed in the Right to Education Act, but the government is of the opinion that we can be flexible about the number of days in the interest of health and well being of our children for all times to come," it added.

DoE has directed all government schools and un-aided/ recognised private schools, to declare holidays during the period.

"It further, ordered that all the un-aided recognised private schools shall provide their fleet of buses to be kept at the disposal of Delhi Transport Corporation for which it has separately notified nodal officers at Depot as well as Zonal levels," the communication sent to schools read.

"Respective Deputy Directors of education should act as nodal officers to co-ordinate procurement of transport buses from unaided recognised schools falling within their jurisdiction for the aforesaid period," it added.

Interestingly, DoE had on November 27 issued a circular already declaring holidays for government and private schools from December 25 to January 15 for primary classes and from December 31 to January 15 for students of classes of 6th to 12th.

According to the circular, as per the past practice, remedial classes will be held within the school premises for all the students of class 12 of all streams during Winter Break from December 31 to January 12.

"The schools will remain closed for winter break, from 25th December 2015 to 15th January, 2016 for primary classes and from 31st December 2015 to 15th January 2016 for students of classes 6th-12th," circular, issued by Additional D E (School) Sunita S Kaushik, had stated.