LAHORE: Given the current chilly weather in the region, Punjab’s winter break for both public and private schools is probably going to be extended, The News reported on Friday.
The Punjab School Education Department (SED) has not made any formal announcements or decisions about a winter break extension.
But a notice about the winter vacation for its non-formal educational institutions from the Punjab Literacy & Non-Formal Education Department has prompted conversations.
All Non-Formal Education Institutions in Punjab have received notification of the winter holiday schedule for January 1, 2024, to January 10, 2024, from the non-formal department, which follows its own unique timetable.
Punjab’s yearly winter vacation began on December 18, 2023, and is expected to end on January 1, 2024. The question of whether the yearly winter vacation should be extended is becoming more and more contentious as the temperature drops and the winter weather gets worse.
There hasn’t been any formal confirmation of the idea of extending the winter break, but social media platforms are buzzing with talk about it. The Literacy Department sent out a statement on social media, which a number of people—including educators—shared, stating that the department has extended its winter break. The uncertainty that exists now about winter break is partly due to this information being spread.
The Punjab government, not the SED Punjab, will ultimately decide whether or not to grant any extension, according to sources within the organization. “The Schools Department will issue an official notification if the government approves an extension of the winter break,” stated a SED Punjab official who wished to remain nameless.
The Director General of the Directorate General of Literacy & Non-Formal Basic Education, Dr. Khurram Shahzad, emphasized to The News that the department follows its winter schedule in the meanwhile. He concluded that, in contrast to the department of the school, its winter vacation is set to begin on January 1, 2024.
