The KP four-day school week has officially started, following the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Elementary and Secondary Education‘s announcement of a new schedule for government schools. Under the decision, schools in the province will now remain closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with classes running from Monday to Thursday. The new system took effect immediately on April 1.
Officials say the change aims to improve organisation in the education sector while also conserving resources.
An official notification from the KP Education Department confirmed that Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will now count as weekly holidays. As a result, government schools across the province will follow a four-day teaching schedule each week.
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Sources also indicate that schools may slightly extend daily teaching hours from Monday to Thursday. The goal is to complete the syllabus on time and avoid any learning loss for students. The department has directed all district officers to enforce the new schedule strictly.
Punjab rejects four-day school week proposal
Punjab, however, has rejected reports suggesting it may adopt a similar model. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hyat called such claims “fake and fabricated” and urged parents and students not to believe the rumours.
He said the period of shutting educational institutions because of economic pressure is over and confirmed that schools in Punjab will remain open as usual. He also asked students to ignore unverified notifications and focus on their studies.
The minister also said the government is not considering online or hybrid classes at this stage. That statement came as schools in Punjab reopened on April 1 after remaining closed since March 10.
The differing decisions in KP and Punjab highlight how provinces are taking separate approaches to managing school operations