Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has formally proposed changes to the school academic calendar, aiming to recover learning time lost during prolonged school closures.
In March 2026, schools across Punjab were shut for an extended period due to a combination of regional security tensions and a fuel shortage, seriously disrupting the academic schedule.
Under the proposals, the total number of teaching days in a school year would be raised from the current level to between 180 and 190 days to offset educational losses.
The minister stated that excessive holidays in the existing system have significantly reduced effective classroom teaching time, prompting a review of the annual vacation schedule.
A reduction of 15 to 20 days in the summer holidays and a further cut of 5 to 6 days in the winter break are both currently under active consideration by education officials.
Additionally, a proposal is being reviewed to open schools on alternate Saturdays, allowing institutions to make up missed sessions without extending the school day significantly.
Officials have also confirmed that separate academic calendars will be developed for Matriculation students and those studying under the O-Level and A-Level examination systems.
The separate calendars aim to align the teaching schedule with the fixed timetables of international examinations, ensuring students complete their syllabi before sitting those tests.
