Punjab Extends School Break Amid Heatwave, Sets Up Helpline for Rule-Breakers
The Punjab government has extended summer vacations for all schools—public and private—until September 1, warning that any institution reopening early will face strict action.
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat emphasized that no exceptions will be made, and urged parents and residents to report violations via the provincial education helpline at +92 316 0261408. The move comes as temperatures across much of Punjab remain dangerously high.
According to Hayat, the decision is aimed at safeguarding students from the ongoing heatwave and will not be reconsidered.
Private Schools Push Back
Not everyone supports the move. The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association has criticized the extension, arguing that it disrupts learning and hampers preparation for board exams—especially for Grade 8 students.
They also point out that schools in Islamabad and other provinces have already resumed classes, questioning why Punjab’s students should be kept home for nearly three months.
While the government frames the measure as a necessary public health step, the dispute reflects a wider tension between academic continuity and climate-related safety measures—an issue that could surface more often as extreme weather becomes a recurring challenge.
