Punjab to Finalize School Holidays After LHC Orders

Justice Jawad Hassan emphasized that education policy decisions, particularly regarding school holidays, must be backed by valid reasoning and formalized rules. The court expressed dissatisfaction over the provincial government’s inability to justify the prolonged closure of schools.

The petition argued that the extension negatively impacted students’ academic schedules and undermined the already disrupted learning cycle. In response, the court directed the Punjab School Education Department to ensure a transparent and rule-based system for future holiday announcements.

High-Level Meeting in Lahore

The meeting, chaired by senior officials at the Civil Secretariat, included top representatives from both public and private education sectors.

Key Participants Included:

Secretaries of School Education, Special Education, and Law & Parliamentary Affairs

Advocate General Punjab

Advocate Hafiz Wawar Ahmed, counsel for the petitioner

Mian Imran Masood, President of Pakistan Education Council

Abrar Ahmed Khan, President of All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APSMA) North

Nighat Ali, Executive Director of Lahore Grammar School

Ali Raza, Group Director of Beaconhouse

Dr. Mariam Chughtai, Director of the National Curriculum Council of Pakistan

Umer Salamat, Representative of SICAS School System

Four representatives of other private school networks

The presence of stakeholders from leading private school networks, along with government officials, indicates that the policy will apply uniformly to both public and private institutions.

Written Recommendations to Frame Rules

According to APSMA North President Abrar Ahmed, participants have been asked to submit their written recommendations regarding school holidays and the academic calendar. These recommendations will be carefully reviewed before finalizing the draft rules.

He noted that a comprehensive and balanced approach is necessary to ensure students’ learning continuity while also accommodating weather conditions, cultural events, and national holidays.

The rules are expected to cover:

Start and end dates of the academic year

Summer, winter, and spring vacation schedules

Public holidays and contingency closures

Guidelines for emergency closures due to weather, political unrest, or health crises

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Impact on Public and Private Schools

Previously, private schools in Punjab often followed different vacation timelines compared to government schools, creating confusion among parents and students. The new uniform policy aims to eliminate these inconsistencies.

Educationists believe that aligning holiday schedules will help maintain academic discipline, reduce disruption in learning, and facilitate better exam preparation across all institutions.

Moreover, private schools have often raised concerns that government decisions on holidays are made without consulting them. The inclusion of private school leaders such as those from Lahore Grammar School, Beaconhouse, and SICAS reflects a collaborative approach moving forward.

Legal and Policy Significance

This development highlights the growing role of the judiciary in shaping education policy in Pakistan. By directing the government to prepare formal rules, the LHC has ensured that decisions affecting millions of students are made with accountability and transparency.

Legal experts suggest that this case could set a precedent for future education-related disputes, compelling provincial governments to adopt more structured approaches in policy-making.

Students and Parents Welcome the Decision

The LHC directive and subsequent departmental meeting have been widely welcomed by students and parents. Many argue that arbitrary extensions of holidays create unnecessary academic pressure, especially in higher classes where board exams are scheduled on strict timelines.

Parents also highlighted that prolonged closures put additional financial burdens on them, particularly when children are enrolled in private institutions where fees remain payable despite holidays.

The Punjab government’s decision to finalize a uniform school holiday and academic calendar policy marks a significant step toward structured governance in the education sector. Prompted by the LHC’s directive, the move will ensure that school holidays are no longer dictated by ad hoc decisions but by clear, well-defined rules.

With input from all major stakeholders, including private school systems, the new framework promises to bring consistency, fairness, and accountability to the academic structure across Punjab.

For now, students, parents, and teachers await the official release of the finalized rules, which could reshape how the academic year is planned and executed in the province