MUMBAI: Most schools have declared holidays for Ganeshotsav, despite an assurance from the school education department that they need not do so on the insistence of political parties.

School education department secretary Ashwini Bhide, said, “Schools need not buckle under pressure from political parties. The education department has not outsourced the work of supervision of implementation of government orders to private or political parties. Schools must stay firm.” The Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) had demanded that all city schools declare a five-day vacation from August 29 to September 2 and is visiting all schools for the purpose.

However, fearing that they will be forced to shut down by the MNVS, most schools have already declared the holiday. “Even if we decide to keep the school open on those days, party workers will come demanding that we close down. Parents too prefer that children are not at risk so we have declared a holiday,” said the principal of a Chembur school.

Bhide said the education department will extend full support to schools, adding, “Schools must approach the department or the police. If we receive complaints, we will write to the home department to address the issue.” However, schools are not sure that the department can come to their rescue. “The education department should have taken a stand instead of passing on the buck to schools. We have written to the education department several times for various issues but these have not yet been addressed. So schools can’t take a chance,” said Rajesh Pandya, teacher, Fatima Devi English High School, Malad.

