While addressing a news conference in Peshawar, Elementary and Secondary Education Director Rafique Khattak said, “Unlike previous years, this year’s vacations will begin from December 20 (today) and schools will reopen on January 1.”
Usually winter break in public and private educational institutes across K-P is from December 25 to December 31.
However, in view of the brutal massacre at Army Public School earlier this week, education experts had asked the government to announce vacations earlier in order to give students and parents time to recover from the shock.
The Peshawar corps commander had already issued directives that APS be reopened in January after the school building is repaired and rehabilitated.
Meanwhile, the University of Peshawar has announced that the university and its affiliated institutes will be closed from December 22 to December 31.
Hazara
Following security threats, the district administration of Abbottabad has announced that all private and public sector educational institutes will be closed from December 20 (today).
According to official sources, winter break in private colleges usually start in December’s last week, however, this year the colleges will be closed from today till February 28.
In Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram, Torghar and Haripur, schools would reopen on January 1.
Insiders said after the government’s decision to lift the moratorium on capital punishment and the expected hangings of convicted militants under the anti-terrorism act, there is fear of backlash from militant groups. Therefore, holidays have been announced for all educational centres.
The deputy commissioner of Haripur, district education officers of Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram and Torghar have confirmed the closure.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2014.
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