PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has announced the introduction of a 4-day school week in all government-run educational institutions across the province. The new schedule establishes that schools will close on Fridays and Saturdays beginning from April 1 2026 with classes scheduled between Monday and Thursday.
The department issued a formal notification which shows that the new schedule will improve educational operations while providing better control of resources. The teaching system will achieve higher efficiency through this development while saving operational expenses.
The education department official stated that reducing workdays to four will result in better teaching outcomes while decreasing resource expenditures. The new system will begin its operation right away and we expect it to produce improved educational results for students.
The sources indicated that teaching hours would be extended slightly to compensate for the reduced school week because student’s educational needs must be met through complete curricular delivery.
The department supports the initiative which has received positive feedback but it has encountered criticism from other groups.
Punjab’s Minister of Education Rana Sikandar Hayat rejected the reports calling them “fake” and “fabricated.” He urged parents and students not to believe any rumours surrounding the new schedule.
Hayat explained that schools will continue their normal operations through economic difficulties which led to the discontinuation of school closures. “All schools will open according to the usual timetable and students are advised to attend class and focus on their studies” he added.
