LALAMUSA: Government colleges in Lalamusa and surrounding areas of Gujrat district reopened on Monday after winter vacations, triggering confusion and hardship for students due to unclear and delayed instructions.
The Punjab government had announced an extension in winter holidays owing to cold weather and dense fog. However, college administrations later informed students that the extension applied only to schools and not to colleges. Many students said they received this information late on Sunday night, leaving them little time to make travel arrangements.
Several students had already returned to their hometowns during the break and were unable to reach campuses on time. Female students and those residing outside the city reported greater difficulties, citing safety concerns while travelling early in the morning amid fog and the non-availability of transport at short notice.
Teachers also faced problems, stating that directions from higher authorities were communicated to them late at night, adding to the uncertainty. Owing to the lack of clear and timely communication, both staff and students remained confused.Students and teachers have urged the authorities to clarify the policy and issue timely, unambiguous instructions to avoid similar situations in future.
