The Punjab School Education Department has officially declared Fridays as weekly holidays for all public and private schools, initiating a four-day academic week across the province.
School operating hours will be set from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm for all single-shift institutions, ensuring students receive consistent instructional time each day.
In double-shift schools, the morning shift will conclude at 12:30 pm, and the second shift will commence at 1:00 pm, continuing until 5:30 pm daily.
The education department stated that the revised schedule aims to improve teaching efficiency while maintaining the quality of education and optimizing learning outcomes for students.
Last week, Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Sikandar Hayat confirmed that educational activities will resume from April 1, with all schools operating five days a week.
In an official statement, the minister reiterated that Punjab schools will reopen on April 1, ensuring in-person classes five days a week for all students.
The provincial government also clarified that a circulating notification claiming a “four-day school week” is fake, urging parents to verify information with official government sources only.
He emphasized that the “hybrid system” will not continue, urging students to attend schools physically to fully benefit from structured classroom learning experiences and educational programs.
The provincial government had previously closed schools, colleges, and universities from March 10 to March 31 due to a fuel crisis caused by international geopolitical tensions.
