The All Pakistan Private Schools and Management Association has rejected the Punjab government’s decision to extend summer holidays by 15 days and announced plans to file a writ petition in the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC).
The Punjab government recently announced that all public and private schools across the province will remain closed until August 31 due to the hot weather. Under the directive issued by the provincial Education Department, only Classes 9 and 10 have been allowed to reopen — a move that parents and school owners say is inadequate and harmful to students’ education.
Parents argue that prolonged closures jeopardize children’s academic progress, especially when schools in other provinces and those operating under the federal government remain open. They also pointed to a disparity in Rawalpindi, where federal government schools are functioning while those under the Punjab administration are closed — a situation they describe as discriminatory and without legal basis.
The petition claims the Punjab government’s notification lacks valid justification, noting that under Section 12 of the Punjab Private Educational Institutions Act, holidays can only be declared in cases of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, or other natural disasters. The current weather conditions, they argue, do not meet these criteria.
The association emphasized that education is a constitutionally protected fundamental right that cannot be denied without compelling reasons. Petitioners have requested the court to suspend the government’s notification immediately and allow all schools to resume teaching activities without further delay.
