Punjab Announces Revised Winter Working Hours for School Teachers

The Punjab School Education Department has officially announced revised winter working hours for all government and private school teachers across the province. The new schedule will take effect from Monday, 27 October 2025, and will remain in place until Monday, 15 April 2026.

According to the official notification, the new timings have been set in view of the approaching winter season to ensure convenience, safety, and better time management for teachers. The department emphasized that the changes are part of its seasonal policy adjustments that aim to maintain efficiency in educational operations during shorter daylight hours.

Revised Timings for Single-Shift Schools

For single-shift schools, teachers will observe the following schedule:

• Monday to Thursday: 08:30 AM to 02:00 PM

• Friday: 08:30 AM to 12:30 PM

This schedule allows teachers to complete their academic responsibilities before the colder late-afternoon hours begin, ensuring that both staff and students can travel safely during daylight.

Revised Timings for Double-Shift Schools

The Punjab Education Department also issued separate schedules for teachers working in double-shift schools:

Morning Shift:

• Monday to Thursday: 08:30 AM to 02:00 PM

• Friday: 08:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Afternoon/Evening Shift:

• Monday to Thursday: 12:45 PM to 04:00 PM

• Friday: 01:45 PM to 04:00 PM

These timings have been carefully structured to ensure smooth transition between the two shifts while maintaining appropriate learning hours for students. The afternoon shift has been slightly shortened to accommodate colder evenings and limited daylight.

Alternate Saturday Attendance

In addition to the weekday schedule, all teachers will be required to attend school on alternate Saturdays from 09:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. These sessions will focus on administrative work, professional training, academic planning, and school improvement activities.

The Saturday attendance is intended to strengthen administrative coordination, improve classroom planning, and enhance the overall quality of teaching and learning in schools across Punjab.

Purpose of the Change

The Punjab School Education Department reviews school timings twice a year — for summer and winter sessions — to ensure that the schedule aligns with seasonal conditions.

The winter months in Punjab often bring foggy mornings, shorter days, and lower temperatures. By adjusting the school timings, the department aims to:

• Ensure safety of teachers and students during early morning travel.

• Maximize productivity by aligning school hours with natural daylight.

• Provide comfort to educators during colder months.

• Maintain educational continuity without disrupting academic calendars.

The decision reflects the department’s ongoing efforts to create a more efficient and teacher-friendly academic environment while ensuring that learning outcomes remain unaffected.

Impact on Teachers and Schools

The new timing structure offers teachers a more balanced workday that considers both instructional hours and personal well-being. Many teachers have welcomed the change, noting that it helps them manage their routines more effectively during winter.

For double-shift schools, the separate scheduling ensures that both morning and afternoon sessions run smoothly without overlapping, maintaining the quality of education for all students.

School administrations have also been instructed to clearly display the new timings on notice boards and communicate the changes to parents through official circulars, SMS notifications, and parent-teacher meetings.

Administrative Oversight and Implementation

District Education Officers (DEOs) and school heads have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the revised schedule starting October 27, 2025. Surprise visits and monitoring activities may be conducted to verify adherence across schools.

Any institution found violating the schedule may face administrative action according to departmental rules. The department has also encouraged school heads to remain flexible in areas severely affected by fog or extreme cold, allowing minor local adjustments where necessary.

Teacher Development and Saturday Sessions

The decision to introduce alternate Saturday sessions for teachers highlights the department’s focus on professional development. These sessions will be used for:

• Lesson planning and curriculum review.

• Training workshops and capacity building.

• Evaluating student performance data.

• Preparing for upcoming examinations and activities.

By allocating time for administrative and developmental activities, the government aims to promote better academic management and teacher collaboration at the institutional level.

Public Response and Expectations

Initial reactions from the teaching community have been largely positive. Many educators view the revised timings as a welcome step that recognizes their needs during the challenging winter season. Parents have also appreciated the clarity and structure the new schedule brings, as it allows better planning for transportation and family routines.

The Punjab Education Department expects that these changes will contribute to smoother school operations, improved attendance, and enhanced teaching efficiency during the winter months.

With the new winter working hours coming into effect from Monday, 27 October 2025, the Punjab School Education Department has once again demonstrated its commitment to creating a balanced and adaptive educational environment.

By setting clear, season-appropriate schedules for teachers across both single and double-shift schools — and introducing alternate Saturday sessions for professional development — the department aims to ensure that education in Punjab continues smoothly, efficiently, and safely throughout the colder months.

Teachers, administrators, and parents are encouraged to cooperate fully to ensure a seamless transition to the new routine that will remain effective until 15 April 2026.