The Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has extended winter vacations for all educational institutions across the province by one week, according to an announcement made on Monday. This decision, driven by the severe cold wave currently affecting the region, comes as a response to the harsh weather conditions. A formal notification has been issued, indicating that the educational institutions will now reopen on January 7, 2025, instead of the previously scheduled date of January 1.
KP is experiencing a significant drop in temperatures, and concerns have been raised about the safety and health of students, who typically travel to school early in the morning, often in freezing conditions. To protect students from these extreme weather conditions, the winter vacations have been extended for an additional week. Prior to this extension, the winter break was scheduled from December 22 to December 31 in the plains of KP, while schools in the hilly areas had winter vacations lasting until February 28.
In contrast, the Punjab government also declared a winter vacation period of 20 days for both public and private schools across the province. These vacations are set from December 20, 2024, to January 10, 2025. During this period, the Punjab government has taken steps to address the growing smog issue, with the Lahore High Court (LHC) issuing an order requiring schools to provide pick-and-drop services for children after the winter break. This initiative aims to ensure that students can commute safely amid the smog threats, especially during the winter months when air quality worsens.
With these measures, the winter vacations extended in both KP and Punjab highlight the regional response to the ongoing cold weather and health risks, providing some relief to students and their families.
