NYC Schools Mistakenly Schedule Eid Al-Adha Holiday
The New York City Ministry of Education has faced criticism for mismanaging the observance of significant Muslim holidays.
This Thursday, schools will be closed to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, but the holiday actually begins at sunset from Sunday to Friday. This situation has upset many in the Muslim community and left other educators puzzled.
“They really jumped the gun. They selected the wrong day. It’s a mishap,” remarked Danique Miller, a former Muslim council member from Queens.
“The department didn’t fully grasp the requirements. There’s really no excuse for this mistake,” added Charles Fall, a Muslim lawmaker from Staten Island.
“We don’t do this to other major religious groups, so why is it happening to Muslims?” he questioned.
Eid Al-Adha celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, an important event in the Islamic calendar.
The NYC Department of Education has alerted schools and administrators about the mistake concerning the holiday observance.
“According to the 2024-2025 calendar, all schools will be closed on June 5th for Eid Al-Adha and the anniversary,” stated the DOE’s Human Resources department in a notice issued on June 2nd.
“However, all central offices should remain open and follow regular schedules. The actual dates of Eid can shift yearly based on moon sightings,” the notice clarified.
Staff may request to take time off for religious observance on Friday, June 6th, according to the memo.
“All requests should be reviewed in line with Rule C-606, which allows for leave for religious holidays,” the memo stated.
In recognizing the error, the DOE designated Friday as an “office day.”
A principal from Brooklyn noted that this mix-up complicates administrative tasks and is “just a small part of what needs to be addressed.”
In its follow-up guidance on June 3, the DOE indicated that Friday would be a “remote” office day for most schools. This means that most students will have the two days off.
“The goal of this day is to provide staff time to tackle various administrative tasks, finalize report cards, and organize portfolios for summer projects,” the memo explained.
