PEF Announces Saturday Holiday for All Partner Schools – Updated Timings Also Issued
The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has officially directed all partner schools across the province to observe Saturday as a holiday, bringing clarity for students, teachers, and school administrations.
Along with the holiday announcement, PEF has also finalized new school timings to be followed immediately.
What PEF Has Announced for Partner Schools
PEF has released a formal notification stating that:
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All PEF partner schools will remain closed every Saturday.
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The decision applies to all districts of Punjab without exception.
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School administrations must ensure compliance and update parents accordingly.
This step aims to standardize the weekly schedule and reduce operational burden on PEF-affiliated institutions.
New School Timings for PEF Partner Schools
Along with the Saturday holiday, PEF has issued updated school timings:
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Opening Time: 8:45 AM
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Closing Time: 1:30 PM
These timings will remain in place for the current academic season and may be revised if required due to weather or administrative needs.
Why PEF Introduced the Saturday Holiday
The Saturday closure has been introduced for several reasons:
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To bring uniformity across all PEF-supported schools
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To provide teachers and staff an additional rest day
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To help schools manage academic plans more effectively
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To ensure standardized operating hours across the province
District Monitoring & Evaluation teams will also check compliance as part of their routine visits.
Who Must Follow This Notification?
The notification applies to:
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All FAS schools
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All NSP schools
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All EVS partner schools
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All schools operating under any PEF-funded program
Private schools not affiliated with PEF are not included in this announcement.
What Parents and Students Should Know
Parents should note:
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Classes will not be held on Saturdays from now onward.
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Revised timings (8:45 AM – 1:30 PM) will apply Monday to Friday.
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School tests, PTMs, and internal activities will be planned within weekday timings.
Students should arrive on time in the morning as PEF monitoring teams often visit during opening hours.
How Schools Should Implement the Instructions
PEF has advised partner schools to:
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Update notice boards and classroom schedules
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Inform parents through SMS or circulars
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Adjust timetables according to the new timings
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Ensure teachers follow attendance rules for the updated week
Failure to implement the revised schedule may result in administrative action during inspections.
Conclusion
The Punjab Education Foundation’s decision to declare Saturday as a holiday and fix new timings from 8:45 AM to 1:30 PM brings clarity and uniformity across partner schools.
Parents, teachers, and students should follow these updates to avoid any scheduling confusion.
Further notifications, if any, will be shared by PEF through official channels.
