Punjab Authorities to Take Action Against Private Schools Violating Winter Timings

What Happened

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has taken notice of violations regarding winter school timings and directed the Punjab School Education Department (PSED) to ensure strict implementation. According to reports, approximately 40% of private schools in the Rawalpindi district are reportedly violating the winter timings set by the PSED [1]. While 60% of schools are following the new schedule, many private institutions continue to open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 2 p.m., despite the official notification [1]. The government has fixed the school opening time at 8:45 a.m. and the closing time at 1:30 p.m. to protect students from cold temperatures and seasonal illnesses such as flu, colds, and coughing [1]. Department officials confirmed that they will now begin registering FIRs against institutions that fail to follow these prescribed timings [1].

In a separate development, the District Registration Authority for Schools in Rawalpindi has issued red notices to all unregistered private schools in the district [2]. These schools have been given a one-week deadline to complete their registration [2]. Authorities warned that all unregistered private schools will be permanently sealed in a grand operation once this deadline expires [2]. Additionally, the authority has approved third-party safety audits for both private and government school buildings [2]. A committee has been formally constituted for these audits, which will be headed by the additional commissioner and include the chief executive officer of education, the executive engineer of the buildings department, and the deputy director of development [2].

During a meeting chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner for Social Services Fazail Mudassir, several other decisions were made [2]:

• Registration was approved for 34 new private schools, which must establish IT and science laboratories and submit relevant certificates [2].
• The registration of one school was deferred due to incomplete documentation [2].
• Fines were approved for institutions that violated government orders during summer vacations [2].
• The additional deputy commissioner stated that no unregistered private school will be allowed to operate in the future and schools with buildings declared unsafe will be sealed [2].

Furthermore, the Strategic Management Unit (SMU) of the PSED has given final approval for paint colours, codes, and finishes for buildings being constructed under the provincial development project titled “Additional Classrooms, Missing Facilities, Dangerous Buildings and SMC Classrooms” [2].