Web Desk: The Punjab government announced on Tuesday that all educational institutions in the province will reopen for a full five-day week starting April 1. The decision comes after a temporary closure prompted by the fuel crisis and rising economic pressures.
Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat clarified that all classes will resume in-person and that online or hybrid learning systems will no longer be permitted. He emphasized that schools and colleges must maintain regular teaching five days a week, and proposals for three- or four-day weeks will not be accepted.
Minister Hayat urged students to dedicate themselves fully to their studies in order to make up for the academic disruption caused by the March closures. “It is essential for students to catch up on missed lessons during the break,” he said.
On March 9, the Punjab government had temporarily shut schools, colleges, and universities across the province due to surging fuel prices, which were triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The rise in global oil prices led to a 20 percent increase in petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan.
Students spent nearly 20 days on vacation from March 10 to March 31, during which online classes continued. The new directives mark a return to normal academic schedules, as authorities aim to stabilize the education system after the disruption.
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