Private Schools Reject New Weekly Schedule in Punjab

Private school associations in Punjab have rejected the provincial government’s decision to close educational institutions on Fridays under an energy-saving program and announced plans to challenge the move in court.

Under the directive issued by the Punjab Education Department, all public and private schools across the province will observe three weekly holidays on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while academic activities will take place from Monday to Thursday.

Irfan Muzaffar Kiyani, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, said schools had already remained closed for 21 days in March, and the addition of three weekly holidays would further disrupt the academic calendar.

He said that from June, schools will again close for around two and a half months, adding that between now and May 31, there will be 27 holidays falling on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, along with three days for Eid al-Adha, bringing the total to 30 holidays.

He said this would leave only around 30 effective teaching days over the next two months and described the decision as unjust, noting that the first ten days of April are typically spent by parents purchasing textbooks, uniforms, and stationery.

Malik Naseem Ahmed, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association (Registered), also opposed the decision and alleged that repeated closures over the past year had already disrupted the education system.

He said continued suspensions of classes risk paralyzing the teaching process and warned against further disruptions. According to the official notification, schools will operate from Monday to Thursday, with timings set from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm.