Punjab Announces Winter Break For Schools & Colleges From December 2025-January 2026

Punjab Announces Winter Break For Schools & Colleges From December 2025-January 2026

The Punjab’s Education Minister, Rana Sikandar Hayat , has declared winter vacations for all public and private educational institutions across the province. The break, set from December 22nd, 2025 to January 10th, 2026 , will provide a nearly three-week respite for millions of students and educators amidst the chilly season.

The minister made the official proclamation via his verified social media accounts, ensuring direct and immediate communication with the public. This move brings clarity to the academic calendar for parents, students, and administrative staff, allowing for timely planning of family engagements and travel.

Prioritizing Student Welfare and Academic Comfort

The winter vacation announcement, while routine for the season, is part of a broader series of reforms and schedule adjustments initiated by the Punjab Education Ministry under Minister Hayat’s leadership. The most significant of these, confirmed earlier by the minister, involves a major restructuring of the annual examination timetable for Matriculation (Secondary School Certificate) and Intermediate (Higher Secondary School Certificate) students.

In a pivotal shift from the long-standing practice, both Matric and Intermediate board examinations will now be held after the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. This decision fundamentally alters the academic rhythm for senior students, moving high-stakes exams away from a period often dedicated to spiritual reflection and family.

Revised Exam Dates: A Post-Ramadan Schedule

According to the outlined plan, the Matriculation exams are tentatively scheduled to commence around March 24 , following Ramadan and Eid. The Intermediate examinations will follow suit shortly thereafter . This revised schedule marks a departure from the previous norm where exams often overlapped with or preceded the holy month, causing significant stress for students.

Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat emphasized that the core objective behind rescheduling these critical examinations is to alleviate academic pressure during Ramadan . The new timeline is designed to offer students a more focused and comfortable preparation period, free from the dual demands of intensive fasting and last-minute exam revision.

“Our students’ physical well-being and mental peace are paramount,” the Minister stated in his announcement. “By shifting the exams after Eid, we are giving them the space to observe Ramadan with serenity and then approach their examinations with renewed energy and concentration. This is about compassionate policy-making.”

Stakeholder Reactions and Practical Implications

The announcement has been met with largely positive reactions from parent-teacher associations and student bodies. Many parents have welcomed the move, noting that it reduces the health strain on their children who previously had to balance rigorous study schedules with fasting.

“It’s a thoughtful decision,” said Ayesha Khan, a parent from Lahore. “Preparing for boards is stressful enough. Doing so while fasting was affecting their health and performance. This change shows the ministry is actually listening to grassroots concerns.”

School administrations now face the task of slightly adjusting their annual teaching plans to ensure the syllabus is completed well before the new exam dates. The extended window between the end of winter vacations and the start of exams in late March is expected to provide ample time for revisions and preparatory tests.

Key Decisions Reshaping Punjab’s Academic Year

The decision to move major exams is particularly noteworthy from an educational policy perspective. It addresses long-standing appeals from various stakeholders about the clash between religious observance and peak academic activity. Analysts see this as a student-centric policy that could potentially lead to improved performance outcomes, as students will be examined in a less physically and mentally taxing period.

Looking Ahead: Implementation and Future Calendar

With the winter break dates now official, all schools and colleges in Punjab will close their doors on December 22nd, 2025 , and reopen on January 11th, 2026 . The Education Department has instructed all district education officers to ensure smooth implementation of the holiday directive.

The broader exam schedule shift for Matric and Intermediate levels sets a new precedent for upcoming academic years. The Punjab Boards Committee of Coordination (PBCC) will now work on finalizing the exact date sheets for all nine educational boards in the province in alignment with this post-Eid framework.

As the province gears up for the winter break, the focus for senior students will gradually shift towards utilizing the coming months effectively for syllabus completion, knowing that the crucial examination period now lies in a more favorable timeframe. Minister Hayat’s announcements collectively aim to bring a balanced and humane pace to Punjab’s educational journey, harmonizing academic rigor with cultural and religious considerations.