Temple fest conducted the previous day was cited as reason

RAMANATHAPURAM

Vairavankoil Panchayat Union Middle School on the outskirts of the town was closed on Thursday after the Block Educational Officer (BEO) declared local holiday for the school, ostensibly due to the village temple festival.

A teacher, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that the school was closed only due to the local temple festival, but enquiries revealed that the temple festival was held on Wednesday and the Headmaster (in-charge) secured local holiday on Thursday to enable teachers to attend the wedding of the son of the Headmistress, who was on medical leave.

After Headmaster (in-charge) Karthikeyan sought local holiday, citing temple festival and enclosing resolutions adopted at School Management Committee and Parent- Teacher Association meetings, the BEO, in his order issued on August 29 (date overwritten), permitted the Headmaster (in-charge) to declare local holiday.

The Headmaster (in-charge), in his request, sent on August 24, sought permission for announcement of local holiday in view of the village temple festival on Thursday. However, enquiries with the villagers revealed that the ‘mulaipari’ festival at the Kooni Amman Temple was held on Wednesday.

Consequently, the school functioned when the villagers celebrated the festival and remained shut on Thursday to enable the teachers to attend the wedding of the Headmistress’ son, a villager said.

The school authorities, however, maintained that they went by what the villagers said and did not cross check the festival date. When contacted, Chief Educational Officer R. Murugan said local holiday was granted for the school following the order of the BEO. He said he would check if there was any discrepancy.

Eight teachers were working in the school, which had a student strength of about 80. The local holiday would be compensated on September 1, sources said.