Web desk: The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has announced a new weekly holiday and revised school timings for its partner institutions.

This decision has addressed the long-standing concerns from parents and school heads over student fatigue and workload when they are not able to get enough rest.

Weekly Holiday

The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has taken a significant and long-awaited step for its partner schools by officially announcing a weekly holiday.

A PEF spokesperson said that partner schools had previously remained open six days a week, and Saturday had not been observed as a holiday.

School heads and parents had repeatedly voiced concerns about the demanding weekly schedule. They said the increased workload was causing mental fatigue among students and affecting their performance.

In response, the foundation has decided to introduce a weekly holiday to ensure students get proper rest.

PEF has also revised the working hours for partner schools. Under the new schedule, all schools will open at 8:45 am and close at 1:30 pm.

These timings will apply from Monday to Thursday. On Fridays, schools will close at 12:30 pm to allow students to offer Friday prayers and to give them a lighter academic day at the end of the week.

The foundation stated that the new schedule and weekly holiday will remain in place until 15 April 2026.

During this period, the administration will review the policy, including student performance, teacher convenience, parental feedback and the overall impact on the learning environment.

If the results are positive and stakeholders are satisfied, the changes may be adopted permanently.

Parents and educationists have welcomed the decision. They say the new schedule will support the mental and physical well-being of students and help improve the quality of education.

The revised timings are expected to reduce fatigue, enhance student performance and create a more effective school environment.