Private school associations across Punjab have strongly opposed the provincial government’s decision to close educational institutions every Friday as part of an energy conservation plan, announcing plans to challenge the directive in court.
The Punjab Education Department recently issued a notification mandating that all public and private schools observe three weekly holidays-Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Under the new schedule, academic activities are confined to Monday through Thursday, with school hours set from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm.
The policy has triggered widespread concern among private school stakeholders, who warn that the reduced academic week will significantly disrupt the already strained education calendar. Irfan Muzaffar Kiyani, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, criticized the decision, pointing out that schools had already remained closed for 21 days in March.
Kiyani argued that the additional weekly closures would further compress teaching time during a critical academic period. He estimated that between now and May 31, students will face 27 weekend holidays, along with three additional days for Eid al-Adha, bringing the total to 30 non-teaching days. With summer vacations expected to begin in June and last approximately two and a half months, he warned that only about 30 effective teaching days remain in the coming two months.
Calling the decision “unjust,” Kiyani added that April is typically a crucial time for families as parents invest in textbooks, uniforms, and other school supplies, expecting uninterrupted academic activity.
Echoing similar concerns, Malik Naseem Ahmed, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association (Registered), condemned the policy, stating that frequent closures over the past year have already destabilized the education system.
Ahmed warned that continued suspensions risk undermining the entire teaching process and urged authorities to reconsider the decision to prevent further academic disruption.
Related: Private Schools Push for Six-Day School Week
As tensions escalate, the dispute is likely to move into the legal arena, setting up a significant confrontation between private education providers and the provincial government over how best to balance energy conservation with educational continuity.
