Ghaziabad: The district administration on Monday ordered all schools, colleges, universities and technical institutions to remain shut from Aug 4 to 12, citing student safety amid massive crowds, traffic diversions and heightened security arrangements during the kanwar yatra.Neighbouring Noida, however, had not issued any similar closure order till Monday evening.The directive, issued by the district magistrate, covers all schools from nursery to Class 12 affiliated with the basic education board, secondary education board, CBSE, ICSE, madrasa board and other recognised bodies. Govt and private colleges, universities and technical institutions will also remain closed. Institutions where examinations are already scheduled have been exempted.Some private schools in the city said they would go ahead with online classes. Govt schools, however, chose to suspend all classes.Officials said the decision was taken as pilgrim movement is expected to peak in the run-up to Shravan Shivratri on Aug 11, when major roads across the district witness extensive traffic restrictions and diversions to facilitate the annual yatra.“The number of kanwariyas using designated routes through Ghaziabad is increasing every day. Traffic diversions, congestion and enhanced security arrangements will intensify over the next few days. The temporary closure is intended to minimise inconvenience to students and reduce risks arising from heavy traffic restrictions and large gatherings,” a senior official said.The administration has asked all educational institutions to comply with the order. Extensive deployment of security personnel and traffic management measures will remain in place on key kanwar routes. Schools and colleges are expected to reopen on Aug 13, subject to further directions.The decision, however, has drawn criticism from sections of the education community and parents, who argued that prolonged closures disrupt academic schedules.“A society that shuts schools for a week but accepts it as normal needs to ask what it truly values. Faith deserves respect, but education deserves protection too. The issue is not the importance of kanwar yatra. It is whether the administration can ensure both religious observance and uninterrupted education. Every lost classroom day affects learning, especially for young children,” the principal of a frontline school said.
