Private schools in Lahore have stepped up their demand to end the weekly Friday break, raising serious concerns about its impact on learning outcomes. Stakeholders believe the current system undermines educational continuity. As a result, the debate around the Friday holiday has gained fresh attention.
During a key meeting attended by private school representatives from across Punjab, participants reviewed academic performance and ongoing administrative challenges. They discussed how frequent breaks disrupt the flow of teaching. Therefore, they urged authorities to reconsider the policy affecting the Friday holiday.
The meeting took place under the leadership of Qazi Naeem Anjum. Several education experts, including Syed Faisal Gilani, Saleem Awan, and Hassan Minhas, actively shared their views. They highlighted that maintaining consistent classroom learning remains essential. In this context, they stressed that the issue of the Friday holiday requires urgent policy review.
Moreover, Qazi Naeem Anjum clearly stated that online classes fail to deliver strong academic results. He explained that students struggle to stay engaged in virtual settings. Consequently, he recommended at least 210 days of physical classroom teaching to ensure quality education. This point further strengthens concerns regarding the Friday holiday.
In addition, participants raised concerns over delays in textbook printing. They noted that the late availability of books wastes valuable academic time. Therefore, they demanded the timely publication of textbooks in the upcoming academic year. This issue also adds pressure on the overall learning environment for Friday holiday.
Private school owners also called on the Lahore Board to expedite the renewal of affiliations. They emphasized that administrative delays create uncertainty for institutions. As a result, these issues indirectly affect the academic progress of Friday holiday.
Education experts concluded that excessive holidays and slow administrative processes make it difficult to complete the syllabus on time. Consequently, students face challenges in achieving strong results. They strongly argued that reducing weekly holidays could improve academic efficiency.
Overall, stakeholders believe revisiting the policy on Friday holiday could strengthen the education system and ensure better outcomes for learners.
