The Punjab government is on its way to declaring winter vacation in December month in response to the existing crisis over smog and the ones that are prevalent at this time of year. The Private Schools Association has objected and urged the government to review the holiday number.
Officials from the District Education Authority stated that the holidays are due to health risks that have arisen due to the severe smog, particularly in the Potohar region and Murree, where the quality of air has reduced.
The announcement made by Punjab’s Secretary of Schools, Khalid Nazir Watoo included in the government’s plans a holiday for 20 days, running through and until January 10, 2025. The statement has been criticized by Abrar Ahmed Khan, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Association for North Punjab.
Also Read: PIA to Resume Direct Flights to Europe After EASA Ban Lifted
He contended that already lengthy vacations of summer had affected the academic calendar, the discontinuities caused by smog, and agitation by the public. However, he felt that it would have been better to have 10 days of vacation starting from 1st January to minimize the effect on students.
Punjab has a long record of school closures due to smog. Several hundreds of tours and thousands of school hours were affected due to temporarily closed schools in Punjab last month when hazardous levels of air pollution were reported to have hit one of the topmost marks in the world. The ongoing smog problem again elucidates the need for sustainable solutions toward improving public welfare from air pollution.