Schools in Punjab get one week off, exams postponed amid cold wave
36 children die of pneumonia as eight out of 10 children affected by disease, reveal chief minister
January 10, 2024
LAHORE: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi Wednesday announced that classes for school students in grade one and below will remain suspended for one week in light of the prevailing cold wave that has gripped the province.
Naqvi, holding an emergency meeting at Lahore’s Children’s Hospital, said that the government has decided to also postpone exams — for grades 1-10 — after the death of 36 children due to pneumonia in the province.
“Eight out of 10 children are suffering from pneumonia,” the chief minister said while further directing the schools to abolish the morning assembly practice as well.
“A child, who has pneumonia, should be prevented from coming to school,” he added while calling for children and the elderly to be vaccinated against pneumonia.
The development comes as schools across the province reopened today (Wednesday) after winter vacations that commenced on December 18, 2023.
On Monday, the provincial government announced a change in schools' timings — which are to start at 9:30 am from January 10 till January 22.
Given the persisting cold weather conditions, the Punjab School Education Department last week extended the winter holidays of public and private educational institutions till January 9.
