LAHORE (Kashmir English): The Punjab Education Department has issued an official notification that establishes new school timings for all public and private schools throughout the province from April 1 to April 15, 2026.
Under the new schedule, regular school timing will be from 8:45 AM to 1:30 PM until further notification because the school timing matches the spring session schedule, which the department previously announced.
The revised timing schedule, which schools will follow after their reopening on April 1, will operate under a five-day in-person schedule to achieve academic continuity, which the provincial government established during economic and energy-related challenges.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat disclosed earlier today that all educational institutions across the province will reopen on April 1 to conduct classes five days each week.
The provincial government has rejected the hybrid system proposal and the three or four-day class proposal, according to him, which means that academic activities will take place throughout the entire five-day week.
The updated schedule requires students, parents, and school staff to follow its guidelines while they wait for additional instructions from education authorities.
Schools re-opening date
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said Monday that schools across the province would reopen on Wednesday.
The provincial government had earlier this month announced to close down all educational institutions from March 10 to 31 as part of measures to save fuel amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
In a statement, the education minister said that the notification — widely circulated on social media — stating that the schools would open for four days was fake.
“Educational institutions will remain open five days a week,” the minister said, adding that there would be physical classes. He also ruled out a hybrid mode of education.
No online classes in Punjab schools
“We cannot shift towards online classes; come to school and study,” he told students, explaining that universities, colleges, and schools would all function for five days.
Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz Sharif has again urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and support the government’s austerity drive, introduced in the wake of the ongoing Middle East crisis due to the US and Israel’s war on Iran.
