Jabalpur’s Anjuman Islamia School shifts weekly-off from Sunday to Friday:Management says, ‘Students don’t attend due to Friday prayers’; BJP Minority Morcha protests

Anjuman Islamia English Medium School, located at Malaviya Chowk in Jabalpur, has issued a new order stating that from the upcoming academic session 2025-26, the school will remain closed on Fridays and open on Sundays. The message regarding the change has been sent to parents via mobile phones. The school management said that most students do not attend classes on Fridays due to Friday prayers, leading to the decision to designate Friday as a holiday. BJP Minority Morcha opposes decision, demands action The BJP Minority Morcha has strongly opposed the school’s decision, calling it a ‘Tughlaki decree’. Morcha’s General Secretary Muzammil Ali said that the school, which has been operating for 117 years, has never remained open on Sundays. He termed the move as an attempt to impose the decision on students and parents without consultation. In a letter to the Collector, the BJP Minority Morcha has demanded strict action against the school management. The letter stated that until 2024, the school observed Sundays as holidays, which aligned with the convenience of families and students. Changing this, the Morcha argued, would disrupt household schedules and traditions followed across the state. Management cites low attendance on Fridays School manager Annu Anwar clarified that Anjuman Islamia runs six schools and one college in Jabalpur, and except for the English medium school at Malaviya Chowk, all institutions observe Friday as a holiday. He said that out of around 700 students, only 10 to 20 attended school on Fridays. Teachers informed management that this was mainly because of Friday prayers. To ensure uninterrupted learning, the school’s principal and teachers decided to shift the holiday to Friday. District education officer unaware of order District Education Officer Ghanshyam Soni said he was unaware of the school’s decision. He stated that if such an order has been issued, it is against state norms. ‘All schools in the state remain closed on Sundays. The management will be called to explain how this decision was taken,’ he said. ​