Punjab school timings revised

Directive comes in wake of unrelenting heat wave

LAHORE: The provincial government on Saturday issued a notification regarding the revision of school timings due to adverse weather conditions.

According to the notification, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, all schools have been directed to commence at 7:30am and close four hours later with effect from May 21. A School Education Department official said the decision had come in the wake of scorching temperatures. He said a summary of the proposal had earlier been forwarded to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said Sharif had approved the summary on Friday.



The All Pakistan Private Schools’ Federation (APPSF) had endorsed the move in a statement issued on Friday. The federation had announced the revised timings—set to be observed across its affiliated schools nationwide—including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).  APPSF president Kashif Mirza said the move had been taken to thwart any untoward ramifications due to harsh weather conditions. The APPSF would announce the summer vacation schedule for all affiliated schools nationwide next week, the statement had also revealed. Mirza said affiliated schools would now commence at 7am and close at 11:30am till the start of summer vacations.

In a statement, the Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) requested the government to revise timings to between 7am and 10am if it was not in a position to immediately announce summer vacations. The PTU said scores of students had been falling sick province-wide due to the unrelenting heat wave. The union also requested the government to immediately announce summer vacations for students enrolled at afternoon shifts. The PTU said teachers should not be held responsible for any untoward incident on this account.



The government had earlier issued a notification regarding summer vacations from June 1 onwards. Private school associations had rapped the move saying it could not be implemented as examinations were usually given in the first week of June.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2016.