The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has announced that all public and private schools will remain closed from March 24 to March 29 to help conserve fuel and electricity amid ongoing energy shortages.
After the Eid holidays, officials hope to cut energy consumption related to transportation, heating, lighting, and administrative activities.
To ensure learning continues, schools are advised to adopt online classes, pre-recorded lessons, and virtual assessments wherever internet access is available.
Administrative staff will carry on with their office responsibilities. While the initiative is expected to save energy, students in remote areas with limited connectivity may face difficulties in accessing lessons effectively.
Education stakeholders have expressed a variety of opinions. Proponents believe the measure will provide noticeable relief in energy costs and reflect prudent financial management amid ongoing fuel price fluctuations. Opponents, especially from remote districts like Shangla, Upper Dir, Chitral, and certain areas of Kohistan, caution that limited or absent internet access in mountainous regions could render online learning largely ineffective, potentially increasing the educational divide for many students. The department has instructed district education officers and school principals to enforce the directives strictly and to clearly communicate the updates to parents and local communities. Parents are encouraged to help their children remain engaged in self-study and to follow any alternative learning plans shared by schools.
This latest school closure comes after previous weekly off-days on Fridays and Saturdays, implemented earlier this academic year for similar energy-saving reasons, highlighting the province’s ongoing challenge of balancing uninterrupted education with managing resources in an environment of energy scarcity.
However, during the closure period, school administrators, clerical employees, and admissions staff are still required to be present in the office to manage routine paperwork, process new student enrollments, keep records up to date, and handle urgent administrative tasks.
