Private schools have called for the removal of Saturday holidays in the next academic year, arguing that more teaching days are necessary to complete the curriculum effectively.
According to reports, Qazi Naeem Anjum, head of Pak Aiwan-e-Taleem for Private Schools, suggested several changes to the academic calendar. He proposed that summer vacations should be limited to two months, while winter holidays should be reduced to around ten days in January. In his view, the academic calendar should include at least 180 instructional days to ensure proper academic progress.
Anjum explained that during the previous academic year, many unexpected or unannounced holidays significantly reduced the number of working days for schools. As a result, educational institutions were able to conduct classes for only about 127 days. He said this shortage of teaching days created serious challenges for schools trying to complete the required syllabus within the given timeframe.
He further stated that the limited number of academic days affects both teachers and students, as they are forced to rush through lessons to cover the required material. To address this issue, he proposed restructuring the academic schedule so that schools have sufficient time for teaching and assessments.
In addition to revising the holiday schedule, Anjum also recommended allowing schools to organize summer camps during the summer break. These camps, he suggested, could be used as an opportunity to complete unfinished coursework or provide additional academic support to students.
Representatives of the School Education Department attended the discussion and listened to the proposals presented by private school officials. Department authorities assured the participants that their suggestions would be reviewed carefully.
Officials said the government would consider the concerns of private schools before making any final decisions regarding changes to the academic calendar for the upcoming academic year.
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