Schools challenge prolonged summer vacations

The government's decision to announce 93-day summer vacations in public and private schools has been strongly rejected by private school organisations, which termed the move extremely harmful for the education system and in violation of High Court guidelines.

The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APSMA) has formally challenged the decision in the High Court. According to APSMA, during the previous academic session 2025-26, there were 365 days in the year, out of which 241 were holidays while only 124 days were spent on teaching.

The association said online classes were merely a formality in which students learned nothing substantial. It further stated that during the first five months of the current academic year - from April 1 to August 31 - students attended classes for only 30 days, out of which seven to eight days were consumed in the distribution of new books, notebooks and uniforms.

APSMA said that with the addition of the 93 summer vacation days, the total holidays during these first five months would reach 123 days. Out of 153 days in this period, only 30 days were effectively used for classroom teaching.

The association added that after the summer vacations, the educational session from September 1 to February 28 would span 181 days.

However, Friday, Saturday and Sunday holidays alone would amount to 72 days, while winter vacations and miscellaneous holidays would add another 25 days, taking the total number of holidays during the remaining six months to nearly 100 days.

As a result, actual teaching days would remain between 81 and 85.

According to the associations, the overall total for the academic year would amount to 230 to 240 holidays, leaving only 125 to 130 days for education and teaching. They termed the arrangement a "cruel system."

The organisations said a high-level committee formed in light of high court guidelines had earlier proposed 180 holidays and 185 teaching days for the entire academic year, including summer vacations, and that the report had already been submitted to the government.

APSMA President Abrar Ahmed Khan, All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association President Irfan Muzaffar Kiani and All Pakistan Private Schools Association Registered President Malik Naseem demanded an end to prolonged vacations.

All private school bodies also demanded permission to conduct summer camps from 7:30am to 11am during summer vacations for students of classes eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve. They pointed out that board examinations for eighth grade students had already started.