Primary and secondary schools throughout Punjab and in the ICT will be off tomorrow, December 16, 2024, because of security issues. The provincial and district authorities’ notifications supported the decision, stating that the move was to respond to existing conditions in the region.
Official Announcements
Punjab School Education Department separately declared all public and private educational institutions closed in the province for the day. However, government offices will carry out their normalcy as planned, as confirmed in the department notification.
Likewise, District Magistrate Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon announced shutdown of private and public schools and colleges in the federal capital. Similarly, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Syed Musa Raza said that educational institutions in Lahore were closed.
Rawalpindi District Chairman Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema also confirmed school and college closure reports in random districts. Dr Cheema said that the action was in compliance with the official policies of the provincial government and pointed out that examinations to take place on December 16 had been cancelled.
Commemorating the APS Attack
The shops remained closed in Islamabad and Lahore, but none gave any particular reason; however, the Rawalpindi DC noted the holiday commemorating the 10th APS attack in Peshawar. The outrage of 2014 in Peshawar led by militants wearing sophisticated weaponry left 131 school children and ten staff dead, making it the most brutal terrorist strike in Pakistan’s history.
Similarly, all Army Public Schools and Colleges in Karachi will be closed on that day to observe the anniversary.
Concerns from Parents and Educators
The decision to close schools has sparked mixed reactions. Parents expressed frustration over frequent school closures, emphasizing their impact on students’ academic progress. Muhammad Riaz, a Rawalpindi resident and father of a ninth-grade student, shared concerns about the disruption of the December examinations. Similarly, another parent, Muhammad Afzal, noted that while students enjoy these unexpected holidays, parents are left worrying about unfinished syllabi.
Many parents have resorted to hiring private tutors or enrolling their children in coaching centres to bridge the learning gap. However, this additional cost places a financial strain on families, as highlighted by Mrs. Nadeem, the mother of an eleventh-grade student.
School administrators also voiced their concerns. Sheharyar Anwar, Principal of Siddeeq Public School, stated that excessive holidays have made it challenging for teachers to complete the syllabus effectively. He added that the upcoming winter vacation will further disrupt academic schedules.
Private School Association’s Perspective
Dr. Malik Abrar, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association, criticized the frequent closures, stating that such decisions adversely affect education quality and increase dropout rates. He noted that December is critical for students in grades nine to twelve as they prepare for upcoming board examinations. According to Dr. Abrar, in-person teaching makes it easier for students to complete their studies and revise for exams.
Closures and Air Pollution a Regular Thing
This closure was followed by several other schools holing over the past two months. Earlier this month in Punjab province, schools were closed because of extremely toxic air; Lahore was singled out as the world’s most polluted city on November 7. The displeasing environment of the city, as analyzed by IQAir, captured PM2.5 indices 100 plus times the WHO guidelines.
The Way Forward
However, frequent closures for such concerns of safety as well as environmental and commemorative elements lead to pertinent questions concerning school-year continuity. Other measures that authorities and school administrations may need to look for include relative strategies such as e-learning or shift in term calendars to reduce the long haul effect on students.
