A committee, formed under the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, has recommended reducing long summer holidays in schools and colleges across Punjab to improve the quality of education.
They suggested a standard academic calendar for all educational institutions in the province. According to the proposal, schools must complete at least 190 teaching days each year.
Summer vacations in Punjab 2026
The committee recommended cutting the current summer break of two and a half months to six weeks.
It also suggested that total annual holidays be limited to 175 days. This will help maintain continuity in learning and ensure the syllabus is completed on time.
The committee was formed during the hearing of a writ petition led by Justice Jawad Hassan. The petition challenged the increasing number of holidays in educational institutions.
The committee held three meetings over four months and finalised its recommendations in the third meeting.
The last meeting was held in Lahore under the chair of the Secretary of the School Education Department.
Special Secretary Muhammad Iqbal supervised the session. After the meeting, he instructed the Punjab Education Curriculum, Testing and Assessment Authority, and the Director of Public Instruction to prepare a unified academic calendar within three days for implementation.
The committee said long and continuous holidays prevent completion of the syllabus, especially in higher classes.
This directly affects students’ learning and exam results. Reducing teaching days also impacts students’ learning abilities and overall academic performance.
Private school organisations supported the committee’s recommendations. They said a standard academic calendar will help complete the syllabus on time and improve discipline in the education system.
Schools holidays announced
Due to severe cold and heavy snowfall in the northern regions, authorities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and northern Pakistan have announced a two-day closure of all public and private schools.
According to the details, the administration has made the decision to close all public and private educational institutions for two days due to heavy snowfall in Azad Kashmir.
Read more: Holiday announced across Sindh
