Lahore: Punjab education authorities have shortened school hours to two per day as the province moves toward midterm school-based assessments for the 2025–26 academic year.
Midterm Exams Begin December 12
According to the Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority, the assessment schedule issued this week sets December 12, 2025, as the first exam date for students in grades 1 through 8. Officials said the revised timetable aims to ensure uniformity across public and private schools as they prepare for the tests.
New Timings for Morning and Afternoon Shifts
Under the provincial notification, morning-shift schools will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Afternoon-shift schools will open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., while on Fridays the afternoon shift will run from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Authorities said the temporary reduction in hours is intended to streamline academic routines during the assessment period.
Winter Vacation Schedule Set
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has also finalized the 2025 winter vacation calendar. Schools will close on December 23, 2025, and remain shut until January 10, 2026. All public and private institutions will reopen on January 13 under a unified schedule.
Province-Wide Implementation
Officials emphasized that the timetable will apply across Punjab to keep academic operations synchronized. The unified plan, they added, ensures equal learning opportunities and consistent administrative practices throughout the province.
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