The Sindh government on Wednesday extended its decision on weekly holidays to educational institutions across the province, announcing that both government and private schools and colleges would remain closed on Saturdays as part of its austerity measures aimed at ensuring the efficient use of available resources.
According to the Sindh Education Department, the decision had been approved by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. Officials said the policy would be implemented uniformly across all schools and colleges, bringing consistency to the province’s educational institutions.
A spokesperson for the department said that despite the reduction in the number of working days, there would be no compromise on academic activities. To compensate for the additional weekly holiday, teaching hours on working days would be extended by one hour. The revised schedule was intended to ensure that the prescribed syllabus was completed on time and that students’ learning was not affected.
Officials said the move was part of the Sindh government’s broader austerity policy, which focuses on reducing operational expenses while making more efficient use of existing resources. By introducing a two-day weekend for educational institutions, the government expected to reduce recurring costs, including utility and administrative expenditures, without disrupting the academic calendar.
The department maintained that the additional teaching hour on working days would enable schools and colleges to continue academic activities effectively while maintaining the required instructional time.
The announcement means that all government and private educational institutions at the school and college levels would now observe the same weekly holiday schedule, simplifying administrative arrangements and ensuring uniform implementation across the province.
The department had directed all educational institutions to revise their academic timetables in accordance with the new policy and ensure the smooth implementation of the extended working hours to maintain the quality and continuity of education while supporting the government’s resource management objectives.
