NST: Special holiday on April 19 for government schools

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KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry today announced a special holiday for government schools and ministry staff members on April 19 to make way for Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the holiday was granted to ease the affairs of parents, teachers as well as ministry staff members to return to their hometowns for Raya.

"Taking into account every view and opinion, particularly (from) teachers and ministry staff members to plan their journey for the Raya holiday, the ministry has decided to grant April 19 as a special holiday," she said today.

The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) had urged the government to consider allocating a special holiday for teachers and students to plan their journey back to their hometowns for Raya.

Its president, Aminuddin Awang, reportedly said the special holiday was important following the United Arab Emirates' prediction that Hari Raya Aidilfitri would fall on April 21.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said the Emirates Astronomical Society's prediction on the Raya date would be discussed at the committee level of the National Fatwa Council.

He said the discussion was timely to prevent a recurrence of last year's abrupt Raya announcement.

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