Punjab government has not officially ended the weekly Saturday holiday in schools as of now.
Rumors about removing Saturday holiday surfaced but were denied by education authorities.
Schools in Punjab continue to observe Saturday as a weekly holiday unless officially notified otherwise.

Has Punjab Ended Weekly Saturday Holiday in Schools?

Introduction
Background: Weekly Holidays in Schools
Official Announcement on Saturday Holiday
The Rumor: Is the Holiday Cancelled?
Government’s Clarification
Reasons Behind the Policy Debate
Impact on Schools, Students, and Teachers
Public Reaction and Concerns
What Parents and Students Should Do
Conclusion

1. Introduction

In recent months, students, teachers, and parents across Punjab have been discussing one question: Has the government ended the weekly Saturday holiday in schools? Conflicting messages on social media and unofficial channels have added to the confusion.

Let’s break down the facts, rumors, and the actual situation regarding this issue.

2. Background: Weekly Holidays in Schools

Historically, schools in Punjab operated six days a week, with only Sunday as the weekly off day. However, over the years, due to administrative decisions and welfare concerns, Saturday was declared an additional weekly holiday in many government and private institutions.

The idea behind a two-day weekend was to reduce stress on both students and teachers and to allow time for teacher training and planning sessions.

3. Official Announcement on Saturday Holiday

In mid-2024, the provincial education department made an official announcement declaring Saturday as a weekly holiday in all government schools across Punjab. This move was appreciated by teachers’ associations, parents, and school staff.

Also Read HEC ( Higher Education Commission.)

Alongside this change, school timings were adjusted to ensure that teaching hours remained sufficient throughout the week. The schedule generally included:

Monday to Thursday: Full day
Friday: Short day
Saturday & Sunday: Weekly holiday

This policy remained in place through late 2024 and early 2025.

4. The Rumor: Is the Holiday Cancelled?

By late 2025, rumors began circulating that the Punjab government was planning to end the Saturday holiday and revert to a six-day school week. This caused concern among both students and parents, particularly because:

Many families had reorganized their routines around the two-day weekend.
Teachers used Saturdays for professional development and lesson planning.
Students used the extra day to prepare for competitive exams or rest.

Social media posts and verbal claims created an atmosphere of confusion, with many believing the change had already been implemented.

5. Government’s Clarification

To address the rumors, an official statement was released by the concerned education authorities, clarifying that no such decision had been implemented.

According to the latest confirmation:

The weekly Saturday holiday remains in place.
Schools across Punjab are continuing with their existing two-day weekend.
Any change in this policy will be communicated officially.

Thus, at present, there is no province-wide order ending Saturday holidays for schools.

6. Reasons Behind the Policy Debate

Although the Saturday holiday remains in place, the government has discussed the possibility of removing it for several reasons:

1. Academic Losses

Due to environmental factors like smog, heatwaves, and unexpected closures, schools in Punjab have lost significant teaching days. To make up for this time, the education department has considered re-introducing Saturdays as school days.

2. Curriculum Pressure

The academic calendar is tightly packed. With reduced school days, completing the curriculum on time becomes a challenge—especially in higher classes where board exams are involved.

3. Learning Gaps

Some students have suffered learning gaps due to online classes, interruptions, or strikes. Authorities believe that more in-school teaching days could help bridge this gap.

Despite these valid concerns, no final decision has been taken, and the two-day weekend still stands.

7. Impact on Schools, Students, and Teachers

Let’s take a look at how the current and proposed schedule could affect different stakeholders:

Stakeholder	Current Situation	If Saturday Holiday Ends
Students	Two-day rest, balanced schedule	Reduced rest, more academic pressure
Teachers	One day for planning and training	Less personal and professional time
Parents	Weekend plans easier to manage	Additional logistics for Saturday
Schools	Structured learning weeks	May need timetable adjustments

While resuming school on Saturdays could help recover lost teaching time, it could also lead to burnout and reduce the effectiveness of instruction.

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8. Public Reaction and Concerns

The general response to the rumored policy change has been mixed.

Parents of younger students expressed concern about fatigue and lack of family time.
Older students preparing for exams welcomed the idea of additional school days to complete their syllabus.
Teachers’ associations largely opposed removing the Saturday holiday, citing the importance of rest and training.
Some private school managements also raised operational challenges in running schools six days a week.

Overall, the majority of stakeholders appear to support the continuation of the Saturday holiday, as long as educational outcomes are not compromised.

9. What Parents and Students Should Do

In light of the current situation, here’s what families and students should keep in mind:

Don’t rely on rumors: Only act on official notifications issued by school administrations or government channels.
Stay in touch with school updates: Your school will inform you if any changes occur in the weekly schedule.
Continue your routine: Until any official change is announced, assume that Saturday remains a holiday.
Be flexible: If a change is introduced in the future, be ready to adjust routines accordingly.
Monitor academic progress: Regardless of the number of school days, focus on maintaining consistent learning at home.

10. Conclusion

As of now, Punjab has not ended the weekly Saturday holiday in schools. The existing policy of Saturday and Sunday being off-days continues across most government and private schools in the province.

Although there have been discussions and speculations about ending the holiday to compensate for academic loss, no such decision has been officially implemented.

Students, teachers, and parents should remain alert for any official communication but continue with the current weekly schedule until further notice.

In summary:

Saturday remains a holiday
No formal change has occurred
Rumors are unconfirmed
Any new policy will be announced officially

Stay informed. Stay focused. And most importantly — don’t let unverified information disrupt your schedule.