Maharashtra School Holidays and Leave Schedule for the Year 2025: Obtain PDF Version
In a significant turn of events, schools across Maharashtra were closed on July 8 and 9, 2025, due to a massive statewide protest by thousands of teachers and non-teaching staff. The demonstration, organised by several teachers' unions, the Maharashtra State Headmasters' Association, and the Joint Headmasters' Association, was triggered by the state government’s failure to fulfill long-pending demands related to financial grants and benefits for these schools' employees.
The key reasons behind the protest include the government's failure to meet pending demands for financial grants, a broken promise to release the next installment of grants made during an October 10, 2024 cabinet meeting, and a government resolution issued on October 14, 2024, that failed to include the required funds, despite last year's 75-day protest beginning on August 1, 2024, seeking increased grants. The renewed frustration over these unresolved issues led to the mobilisation of teachers and staff once again.
Thousands of teachers gathered at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan to stage the protest, with the agitation being supported by major organisations. Around 5,000 partially aided private schools also closed as part of the protest. The action was intended to pressure the government to immediately address the financial grievances, with warnings that the agitation could escalate if ignored, potentially causing further disruption to the state's education system.
Notably, there were conflicting reports from the Maharashtra Education Department stating that schools would remain open during the protest dates, but the prevailing situation was that schools did close in solidarity with the teachers' demands.
In other news, the Maharashtra Board School Holiday List for 2025 has been released, which includes major festivals, national holidays, and special observances that will be observed throughout the year. The list is divided into months to facilitate planning for vacations and other activities.
Key dates from the list include:
- July 6, 2025: Muharram - July 8 and 9, 2025: Schools closed due to the statewide teachers' protest - July 25, 2025: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti - August 15, 2025: Independence Day and Parsi New Year's Day (Shahenshahi) - August 27, 2025: Ganesh Chaturthi - September 5, 2025: Eid-e-Milad - October 2, 2025: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra - October 21, 2025: Diwali Amavasya (Lakshmi Pujan) - October 22, 2025: Diwali (Sacrifice) - November 5, 2025: Guru Nanak Jayanti - December 25, 2025: Christmas
It is advised to consult school authorities and teachers before following the holiday list, as certain leaves might not apply to some regions.
The protest, which began in August 2024 and lasted for 75 days, was the main goal of seeking long-overdue grants and benefits. Other notable dates from the list include April 18, 2025, observed as Good Friday, March 30, 2025, observed as Ramadan Eid (Eid-ul-Fitr), April 6, 2025, observed as Ram Navami, May 1, 2025, observed as Maharashtra Day, June 7, 2025, observed as Bakri Eid (Eid-ul-Zua), and March 14, 2025, observed as Gudhipadva.
May 12, 2025, is observed as Buddha Purnima, and April 10, 2025, is observed as Mahavir Janm Kalyanak. October 21, 2025, is observed as Diwali Amavasya (Lakshmi Pujan), and April 14, 2025, is observed as Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti. Lastly, November 5, 2025, is observed as Guru Nanak Jayanti.
References: [1] Maharashtra Board School Holiday List 2025 [2] Maharashtra schools closed due to teachers' protest [3] Maharashtra Education Department contradicts school closure reports during teachers' protest [4] Teachers' protest escalates in Maharashtra over unfulfilled demands [5] Thousands of teachers protest in Maharashtra, schools closed for two days
Amidst the ongoing teachers' protest, the need for alternative modes of education-and-self-development and learning becomes increasingly crucial for students as their classes remain suspended due to the closure of schools. Teachers and staff, who are adamant about pressing their long-pending demands, continue to engage in the learning process themselves, sourcing knowledge from various resources to maintain their educative competence and prepare for potential negotiations with the state government.
