Lucknow, Apr 14 (DHNS): In a significant decision, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said that schools would not be closed on the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of 126th birth anniversary of dalit ideologue B.R.Ambedkar here, Adityanath said that the schools should organise programs based on the lives and works of the great personalities rather than be closed.

''Such programs will enable the children to know and understand about those great people...it will help them become good citizens'', he said.

He said that his government would stop the tradition of declaring holidays in the schools on the birth and death anniversaries of great personalities. The decision is certain to trigger huge controversy as it may be opposed by some quarters.

UP currently has 44 public holidays that include 15 holidays for birth and death anniversaries of religious, political and social personalities.

Government offices and schools remain closed on the birth anniversaries of Bhagwan Mahavir, Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Guru Nanak Dev, Maharana Pratap, former prime ministers Chandrashekhar and Charan Singh, Maharshi Kashyap, Nishadraj, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti , Hazrat Ali, Parashuram and saint Valmiki.