Education experts warn that the ongoing smog crisis could lead to additional school closures, further shrinking the academic year.
Punjab may scrap Saturday holiday in Schools. The Punjab School Education Department is considering the removal of the Saturday holiday to make up for lost academic time caused by smog-related school closures and unscheduled breaks. If implemented, schools would operate six days a week instead of the current five.
Due to frequent unplanned holidays, the academic year in Punjab, Pakistan, has been reduced to just 112 days, well below the international standard of 245 days. This has raised concerns, especially for students in grades 9 and 10, who are preparing for important exams.
Education experts warn that the ongoing smog crisis could lead to additional school closures, further shrinking the academic year. Schools in Punjab were closed early in November due to smog, and winter vacations have also been extended in recent years. With the winter break approaching, instructional time is expected to decrease further.
Teachers and education specialists have voiced concerns over the difficulty of making up for lost time, as online classes have not been feasible in the current environment. The proposed six-day school week is seen as measure to recover instructional time and ensure that students receive sufficient academic support despite these challenges.
Earlier this week, as Punjab is battling with rising air pollution, the provincial government had extended the closure of all public and private schools and colleges to five additional divisions of the province.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had ordered the educational institutions in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal divisions to remain closed from November 13 (Wednesday) to November 17, 2024.
