Punjab Schools to reopen in phases from August 18

The Punjab government has changed its policy and will reopen schools for senior students starting August 18. This reverses the earlier decision to extend summer holidays until September due to the ongoing heatwave.

Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said this change happened after discussions with education experts. They recommended that older students should return early to avoid losing valuable study time.

According to the new plan, all public and private schools in Punjab will welcome back these groups on Monday, August 18:

• Students in 9th and 10th grades

• O Level and A Level students

• Intermediate students (FA/FSc)

Students from grades 1 to 8 will return later, starting September 1. This follows the original plan to extend summer holidays for younger children because of the extreme heat.

The new order applies to both public and private schools across the province. Education officials have asked schools to follow safety measures during the heatwave. This includes providing enough drinking water, ensuring proper ventilation, and adjusting school hours if needed.

Last week, the Punjab government extended school holidays due to a severe heatwave. The School Education Department had initially told all schools to remain closed until September 1 to protect students from the high temperatures.

However, the new advice from experts has led to reopening for senior students earlier than planned. This aims to reduce disruption in their education.