The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department has moved to clarify conflicting reports regarding summer school closures, putting an end to a week of speculation among parents and teachers.
The provincial government confirmed Tuesday that while summer vacations are scheduled to begin in June, individual districts retain the authority to adjust timelines based on localized weather patterns. The clarification follows a viral notification that led many to believe schools were closing immediately across the entire province.
The confusion stemmed from a leaked draft document circulating on social media, which suggested an early start to the break due to rising temperatures. Parents in Peshawar and Mardan had begun pulling children from classes, assuming the order was official.
“There is no blanket directive for an immediate shutdown,” a spokesperson for the Elementary and Secondary Education Department said. “Districts facing extreme heat waves are permitted to reduce school hours or adjust schedules, but the official summer break remains unchanged for now.”
For many, the clarification is too little, too late. Private school associations have criticized the lack of clear, centralized communication, noting that the ambiguity forced thousands of institutions to operate in a vacuum of information.
“We need a single, authoritative voice during these months,” said an administrator at a private school in Peshawar. “When social media outpaces the department’s official channels, it creates unnecessary chaos for thousands of families.”
The education department now faces the task of managing attendance as temperatures continue to climb across the province. With the mercury hitting 40°C in several districts, the department’s insistence on keeping schools open until the scheduled date will likely be tested by the physical toll on students.
The provincial government has promised to monitor district-level reports daily. If the current heat wave intensifies, the department may be forced to revisit its decision before the week is out.
