LAHORE: Former Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas has questioned the province’s extended summer holidays for schools.
Raas raised concerns over the continued closure of public and private educational institutions. He also questioned why Army Public Schools (APS) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) schools remain operational.
According to Raas, Punjab students are facing one of the longest summer breaks in recent years. Schools across the province closed on May 21 due to extreme weather conditions.
The provincial government has scheduled schools to reopen on August 24. This means students will remain away from regular classes for more than three months.
The former Education Minister questioned the reason behind such a lengthy academic break. He said students should not remain disconnected from education for an extended period.
Raas shared his concerns in a post on X. He suggested that keeping children away from schools for such a long period was difficult to understand.
The Punjab government extended the summer holidays because of severe heatwave conditions. Authorities directed both public and private schools to remain closed during the period.
Officials also warned educational institutions against reopening before the announced date. Schools violating the government’s instructions could face penalties.
The extended closure has also raised concerns about students’ academic progress. A prolonged break can create learning gaps, especially among younger students.
To address these concerns, the Punjab government has planned remedial learning camps. These camps are expected to help students recover lessons missed during the extended holidays.
The Education Minister’s criticism also focused on differences between regular schools and military-managed institutions. APS and PAF schools operate under separate administrative arrangements.
These institutions can therefore follow different policies regarding academic schedules and summer breaks. Their separate management structure allows them to make arrangements based on their administrative requirements.
The issue has also drawn attention from private school representatives. Some private schools have reportedly demanded an earlier reopening of educational institutions.
The Education Minister’s remarks come as parents and schools await the official reopening date. For now, Punjab schools are expected to resume regular classes on August 24.
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The government’s decision remains linked to weather conditions and student safety. Authorities are expected to monitor the situation before schools reopen across the province.
