Punjab shifts schools to a four-day week after reopening

Punjab has announced a major change to its academic calendar, ordering all public and private schools across the province to remain closed on Fridays until further notice. The move effectively shifts schools to a four-day teaching week from Monday through Thursday.

The provincial education department also issued revised timings for institutions operating in single and double shifts. Under the new schedule, single-shift schools will run from morning to early afternoon, while double-shift institutions will divide classes between separate morning and afternoon sessions.

The decision came on the same day educational institutions resumed activity after a prolonged closure linked to fuel conservation measures during the wider regional energy strain. Officials did not spell out a reason in the notification for the new Friday shutdown, though the timing points to continued concern over operating costs and resource management.

Punjab’s higher education authorities have extended the same four-day pattern to colleges and universities, signaling that the adjustment is broader than school-level administration. The shift now leaves policymakers under pressure to recover lost learning time while keeping disruption to students and families to a minimum.