Patna: Colleges and universities across Bihar have begun their Holi break, marking the start of a month in which teaching is expected to be disrupted for nearly half the calendar.
In Patna University and Pataliputra University, holidays have been declared from March 2-5, with regular classes scheduled to resume on March 6. The pause comes at the beginning of a string of public holidays and religious festivals that will further interrupt academic activity throughout the month.
Universities and colleges are set to close again from the third week of March to observe Eid on March 21, Bihar Day on March 22, Emperor Ashoka Jayanti on March 26, Ram Navami on March 27 and Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. In addition, March includes five Sundays – March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29– when institutions remain shut under the weekly holiday schedule.
The festival of Chaiti Chhath, falling on March 25 and 26, is also expected to limit activities in several districts, even where formal closures are not announced. Taken together with the Holi break and scheduled weekly holidays, teaching in higher education institutions is likely to be suspended for about 14 days during the month.
The cluster of holidays has effectively made March a truncated academic period for many students. While some have welcomed the opportunity to travel home and celebrate festivals with their families, others have expressed concern about the impact on the continuity of their studies.
Examinations are continuing in several institutions, with first-, third- and fifth-semester assessments under way. Colleges are also engaged in evaluating answer scripts and managing related administrative work. After the holiday period, some universities are expected to begin preparations for second-, fourth- and sixth-semester examinations.
University administrations have said they are working to complete the academic session by June or July, in order to ensure that the next semester begins on schedule despite the interruptions.
