Asserting that saving children from extreme weather conditions was a top priority for the Punjab government, Provincial Minister for Education Rana Iskandar Hayat said on Monday that summer vacations would start at all schools in the province from May 22 (Wednesday), barring those where exams are currently being held. The minister said he sought from parents their opinions about starting the vacations early keeping in view intense heat. “Of over 7,000 parents who expressed their opinion, 96 per cent demanded that vacations be announced immediately,” he said, adding, “Keeping in view the demand by the parents, I have decided that summer vacations in the province will begin on May 22.” Hayat informed the notification for the purpose would be issued either today or tomorrow. Earlier on May 17, the education authorities in Punjab had announced summer vacations for schools across the province starting from June 1.

According to the Punjab School Education Department notification issued on Friday last, the summer vacations for schools will start on June 1 and will end on August 14. The School Education Department had also released new school timings due to the ongoing heatwave spell. According to the new time schedule, the schools will open at 7 am and end at 11 am. On Fridays, the holiday will be at 10:30 am. The notification for summer vacations will apply to both government and private schools. The notification also called on school administrators to fix all the fans in the classrooms and provide cold water to the children. Furthermore, the children will not be allowed to sit in the open space or playground. All the education institutes will implement the new timetable at all costs. Action will be taken against the schools that do not obey the orders, the notification added.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan