RAWALPINDI, August 11 – The Rawalpindi Education Authority has issued a strict warning to all private schools, instructing them not to reopen before September 1.

Following the Punjab government’s decision to extend summer vacations until August 31, complaint cells have been set up in Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Murree, and Taxila. The public is being urged to report any school that resumes classes before the official date.

The extension—decided due to the ongoing heatwave in central and southern Punjab and bad weather in northern areas—is the second change to the academic calendar this summer. Parents, students, and school administrations have been told to adjust their schedules accordingly.

Rawalpindi Education Authority CEO Tariq Mehmood said special teams will ensure compliance with the orders. “Any school that opens early will be sealed, and its management will face heavy fines,” he warned.

However, the decision has drawn criticism from the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSCA).

• Abrar Ahmed Khan, President of APPSCA North Punjab, called the move “unjustified and unwise” and demanded it be reversed immediately. He noted that parents are still paying school fees, while administrations continue to bear expenses like rent, salaries, and utility bills.
• Malik Abrar Hussain, President of APPSCA Central, described the decision as “illogical, anti-education, and unjustified,” warning that further delays could harm the already struggling education system.

Critics also point out that private schools in Islamabad reopened on August 4, those in Sindh on August 2, and institutions in other provinces are following normal schedules.

For now, all schools in Punjab—public and private—will remain closed until September 1, when classes are expected to resume province-wide.