PESHAWAR: Amid a surge in fuel prices and possible constraints in the supply of petroleum products, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a revised schedule for educational institutions, raising concerns among parents and the teaching fraternity.
Under the new policy, schools across the province will remain closed from Friday to Sunday, while academic hours on the remaining four working days have been extended until 3pm.According to the notification, the decision aims to reduce fuel consumption and ensure continuity of academic activities within a shortened workweek.
Two separate notifications were issued on Wednesday by the Directorate of Elementary and Secondary Education, KP.However, the first notification, which outlined the timetable for various grades, contained numerous errors. Following criticism on social media, the directorate revised the document and issued a corrected version later.
Despite the revision, concerns persist about the practicality of the new schedule. According to the updated timetable, school hours will begin at 7:30am, with closing times set at 1:35pm for primary schools, 2:30pm for middle schools (Grades 6-8), and 3pm for high and higher secondary classes (Grades 9-12).
Stakeholders in the education sector have raised concerns over the revised schedule. In high and higher secondary schools, different timings have been assigned to lower and upper grades within the same institution, which may cause administrative issues.
Additionally, the variation in break durations , 30 minutes for middle schools and 50 minutes for high schools, has also drawn criticism.Ataur Rehman, president of the Young Teachers Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated in a social media post that even the revised timetable was not aligned with ground realities.
He added that inconsistencies in class durations , ranging from 45 minutes at the primary level to 55 minutes at the higher secondary level , and differing post-break session lengths would lead to serious administrative issues.
A senior teacher observed that managing consecutive classes across different grade levels with varying break times, as per the new schedule, would pose serious challenges within a single school environment.
Teachers were also skeptical about the effectiveness of the revised schedule, stating that it may not achieve the stated objective of fuel conservation. “There is no visible shortage of petrol at filling stations, and transport continues as usual,” one teacher remarked.
The extended school hours have sparked concern among female teachers, who argue that the new timings would severely affect them. Many highlighted their dual responsibilities at school and at home.
Managing young children, elderly dependents, and household responsibilities alongside longer school hours would be extremely difficult, said a group of female teachers in a joint statement.They warned that the revised schedule could lead to increased physical exhaustion and mental stress.
While acknowledging the government’s intent to improve the education system, the teachers urged authorities to reconsider the schedule and introduce flexibility.Suggestions include reduced working hours, staggered timings, or other supportive measures to accommodate staff needs. However, the teachers welcomed the decision of having three days off per week.
Officials in the Education Department maintained that the revised schedule is designed to compensate for potential academic losses and ensure completion of Student Learning Outcomes within the academic calendar.The new timings came into effect on April 1, 2026, and will remain in place until further orders, the notification stated.
