PESHAWAR:
In a significant move to conserve fuel and electricity amid ongoing energy challenges, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has announced an additional six-day holiday for all public and private educational institutions across the province.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued an official notification that schools, colleges and other educational facilities will remain closed from March 24 to March 29. The measure comes shortly after the Eidul Fitr holiday and is part of a wider provincial strategy focusing on fuel conservation and responsible driving.
Officials explained that the decision aims to reduce energy consumption related to school operations, student transport, heating, lighting and administrative activities during a period of increased demand and supply constraints. By keeping campuses closed for an extended period, authorities hope to achieve meaningful savings in petroleum products and electricity without permanently disrupting the academic calendar.
To limit academic losses, the department has strongly encouraged schools and colleges to shift instruction online or adopt home-schooling arrangements where 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, office staff and admissions teams must continue to attend offices during the closure period to handle routine paperwork, process new admissions, maintain records and deal with urgent administrative matters.
Education stakeholders have given mixed reactions. Supporters argue the move will deliver 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 render online learning largely ineffective, potentially widening the education gap for thousands of students. The department has directed district education officers and school principals to ensure strict compliance and to communicate the changes clearly to parents and communities. Parents are urged to keep children engaged in self-study and follow any alternative learning plans offered by their institutions.
This latest closure follows previous weekly days off (Fridays and Saturdays) introduced earlier in the academic year for similar conservation reasons, underscoring the province’s ongoing struggle to balance educational continuity with resource management in an energy-stressed environment.
