Private schools oppose extended weekly closures

Institutions will observe Friday, Saturday and Sunday as holidays amid fuel crisis

RAWALPINDI:

Amid a fresh petroleum products crisis, the Education Department has announced that both public and private schools will also remain closed on Fridays under an energy-saving programme. A formal notification has been issued to this effect.

However, private education bodies have rejected the decision, terming it detrimental to teaching and learning, and have announced their intention to challenge it in the High Court.

Under the directive, all educational institutions across Punjab, including the six districts of the Rawalpindi Division, will now observe three weekly holidays—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 that schools had already remained closed for 21 days in March, and the imposition of three holidays per week would further harm education. He noted that from 1 June, schools would again close for approximately two and a half months.

He further pointed out that between now and 31 May 31, there will be 27 holidays falling on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, in addition to three days for Eidul Azha, bringing the total to 30 holidays, leaving only around 30 effective teaching days over two months.

He described the situation as unjust, adding that the first ten days of April would be spent by parents purchasing new textbooks, uniforms, and stationery. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of Friday and Saturday holidays.

Similarly, Malik Naseem Ahmed, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association (Registered), alleged that the government was deliberately undermining the education system. He said schools had frequently been closed over the past year on various pretexts and warned against paralysing the teaching process.

Drawing comparisons, he remarked that even in countries facing conflict, schools and markets remained open, whereas unnecessary closures were being enforced locally.

According to the official notification issued by the Education Department, all public and private institutions across Punjab will observe holidays on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Schools will operate from Monday to Thursday, with timings set from 8am to 1.30pm.