Will Friday holiday become permanent? Govt issues clarification

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has denied the existence of permanent Friday holiday plans for educational institutions, stating that the current Friday holiday policies will end in the upcoming weeks.

The minister confirmed through his statement that the provincial government is currently conducting talks with federal officials to discontinue the Friday holiday.

The Punjab educational institutions will begin new academic schedules after receiving approval to proceed with regular five-day school operations.

The decision on summer vacation dates remains pending until after May 15 because Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif must give her approval.

Authorities are currently deciding between two options, which involve shortening holiday lengths or keeping traditional breaks according to weather conditions and academic needs.

The Friday holiday policy started as a temporary solution, which helped educational facilities cope with rising transportation expenses that resulted from the global energy crisis.

Students participated in online classes on Fridays as educational institutions implemented a system that required reduced physical attendance.

Officials had used the term to describe the initiative as a temporary solution that would last for a limited time. The education minister’s statement explains that academic activities will resume their standard schedule because economic conditions, which stem from fuel price increases, have decreased and students will now attend classes at their full capacity.