The Punjab School Education Department has firmly denied circulating rumors about closing schools from April 6 to April 25 in response to rising petrol prices. Noor-ul-Huda, spokesperson for Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hyat, clarified that no such decision has been made by the provincial government. He labeled the notification spreading on social media as fabricated and urged the public to trust only official announcements.
He further appealed to citizens to refrain from sharing unverified information on social platforms, emphasizing that such misinformation causes unnecessary distress among parents and students. The education department confirmed that any adjustments to the academic calendar or school hours will be officially communicated. For the time being, all educational institutions in Punjab will continue their regular operations.
In a related update, Minister Rana Sikandar Hyat explained the Friday policy for schools, stating that instead of a full holiday, a “work from home” arrangement will be implemented on Fridays. Both government and private schools, colleges, and universities are authorized to conduct online classes on Fridays, while the usual two-day weekend on Saturday and Sunday remains unchanged. The minister expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation, highlighting the shift towards digital learning to avoid disruption in students’ education.
The provincial education department also detailed the school shift timings: single shift schools will operate from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm, double shift schools from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, and afternoon shift schools from 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad have introduced a four-day working week for schools, declaring Friday through Sunday as holidays. This change aims to reduce fuel consumption amid global shortages linked to the Iran War. The KP Education Department’s official notification, effective April 1, mandates that government schools hold classes Monday to Thursday. To compensate for the reduced days, daily teaching hours may be extended to ensure syllabus completion and minimize learning loss. District officers have been instructed to enforce this new schedule strictly.
