More than 10 million students enrolled in 38,000 government schools across Punjab will not sit for their first-term examinations this year, according to the School Education Department.
Officials said the exam schedule was disrupted due to prolonged school closures following floods and delayed reopening in several districts. The first-term exams were originally set to begin on August 15, but the department has now decided to combine them with mid-term exams scheduled for the first week of December.
Parents have voiced concern over the decision, saying timely examinations help students manage their academic load and maintain focus. “When exams are held according to schedule, children don’t feel pressured. But delays create frustration and disappointment among them,” one parent said.
The School Education Department confirmed that all first-term assessments will now be conducted alongside mid-term exams in December.