PESHAWAR:
In a major move to conserve fuel and electricity amid persistent energy challenges, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has announced an additional six-day holiday for all public and private educational institutions in the province.
The Department of Primary and Secondary Education issued an official notification stating that schools, colleges and other educational facilities will remain closed from March 24 to 29. The move comes shortly after the Eidul Fitr holiday and is part of a broader provincial strategy focused on fuel conservation and responsible governance.
Officials explained that the decision is intended to reduce energy consumption related to school operations, student transportation, heating, lighting and administrative activities during a period of increased demand and supply constraints. By keeping campuses closed for an extended period, officials hope to achieve significant savings on petroleum products and electricity without permanently disrupting the academic calendar.
To limit academic losses, the department has strongly encouraged schools and colleges to shift teaching online or adopt home-schooling arrangements as long as internet access and digital resources are available. Teachers have been advised to prepare recorded lessons, share assignments through WhatsApp groups or learning management platforms and conduct virtual assessments if possible.
However, school administrations, administrative staff and admission teams must continue to attend offices during the closure period to handle routine paperwork, process new admissions, maintain records and address urgent administrative matters.
Education stakeholders have offered mixed reactions. Supporters argue the measure will provide tangible energy relief and demonstrate fiscal responsibility at a time when fuel prices remain volatile. Critics, particularly from remote districts such as Shangla, Upper Dir, Chitral and parts of Kohistan, warn that unreliable or non-existent internet connectivity in mountainous areas will make online learning largely ineffective, potentially widening the education gap for thousands of students. The department has directed district education officials and school principals to ensure strict compliance and communicate changes clearly to parents and communities. Parents are urged to keep children engaged in self-study and follow alternative learning schedules provided by their institutions.
This latest closure follows weekly days off (Fridays and Saturdays) introduced earlier in the academic year for similar conservation reasons, underscoring the province’s ongoing struggle to balance education continuity with resource management in an energy-stressed environment.
