Punjab schools summer vacations in limbo!

The All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSMA) on Friday rejected the decision to begin the summer vacations in the educational institutes from June 1, soon after the Punjab government announced the holiday period for schools across the province.

The provincial government earlier in the day announced that the annual summer vacations will be observed from June 1 to August 14 in all public and private schools in the light of intensely hot weather.

However, the APPSMA rejected the announcement and demanded permission to allow the schools to function between 7am to 10am from June 1 to June 15.

“Closing schools in the name of extreme heat or cold has become routine,” the association said. It stated that the same was the case with suspension of academic activities due to “emergency or security” reasons.

It demanded summer camps for classes IX and X be allowed for limited hours and sought revision of the notification for the vacation period.

The Punjab education authorities issued a notification regarding the summer vacations and other decisions regarding schools.

As per the notification, the provincial government also reduced school timings because of the rising temperatures in multiple cities across the country.

“The schools will open from 7am to 11:30am from Monday to Thursday, while they will open at 7am to close at 10:30am on Fridays,” the notification read.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said that due to the presence of high pressure in the upper atmosphere, heatwave conditions are likely to develop over most parts of the country, especially over Punjab and Sindh from May 21.

It added that they will likely convert to severe heatwave conditions from May 23 to 27.

Day temperatures are likely to remain 4°C to 6°C above normal in Punjab from May 21 to 23 and from 6°C to 8°C from May 23 to 27.