Delhi schools to shut down during odd-even scheme trial

NEW DELHI: 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.