Is Punjab extending winter vacations for schools?

• SED Punjab hasn't made any official announcement yet. 
• Non-formal dept notifies vacations from Jan 1 to 10, 2024. 
• Punjab govt to make ultimate decision on winter vacations. 

LAHORE: Winter vacations for private and public schools in Punjab are likely to be extended amid the prevailing cold weather in the province, The News reported Friday. 

There hasn't been any official decision or announcement from the School Education Department (SED) Punjab regarding an extension in the winter break. 

However, a notification issued by the Literacy & Non-Formal Education Department Punjab regarding the winter break for its non-formal educational institutions has sparked discussions.

The non-formal department, which adheres to a distinct winter break schedule of its own, has notified the winter vacations in all Non-Formal Education Institutions in Punjab from January 1, 2024, to January 10, 2024.

The annual winter break for schools in Punjab commenced on December 18, 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on January 1, 2024. However, as temperature drops and winter conditions intensify, there is a growing debate about the potential extension of the annual winter break.

Social media platforms are also abuzz with discussions about a potential extension of the winter break, although there has been no official confirmation of this possibility. Several individuals, including teachers, have shared the notification from the Literacy Department on social media, claiming that the department has extended its winter vacation. This dissemination of information has contributed to the current confusion surrounding the winter break.

According to sources within the SED Punjab, the ultimate decision regarding any extension will be made by the Punjab government rather than the SED Punjab. “If the government approves an extension of the winter break, the Schools Department will issue an official notification,” commented an official from the SED Punjab who preferred to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, talking to The News, the Director General of the Directorate General of Literacy & Non-Formal Basic Education Dr Khurram Shahzad clarified that the department adheres to its winter schedule. In contrast to the school's department, its winter break is scheduled to commence on January 1, 2024, he concluded.