Islamabad schools reopen: most of 38 FDE schools and colleges used by police open again, about 10 still closed

Most of the 38 government schools and colleges in Islamabad that were shut to house police for nearly three weeks reopened on Monday 12 October 2026, after the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) issued instructions late on Sunday night, ProPakistani reported. About 10 institutions are still closed because police personnel are still staying on their premises.

Why they were closed

The buildings were taken over from 24 September to accommodate police brought into the capital ahead of the protest march planned by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Classes stopped at the affected schools and colleges for close to three weeks, in the middle of the first term. H-9 College was among them; a faculty member there told ProPakistani the closure had hurt the college's academic progress.

Is my child's school open?

• Most FDE schools and colleges: open from Monday 12 October. Because the order came late on Sunday night, many parents and teachers did not hear in time, and one principal said attendance should be back to normal by Tuesday 13 October.
• About 10 institutions: still closed while police remain on site. The FDE has not published a list or a reopening date for them. Check with the school's principal or the FDE before sending children.

Catching up

Three weeks is a large share of the autumn term. Ask the school whether it will add Saturday classes, cut the winter break or revise the first-term exam schedule. Students preparing for board exams can use the time to check where they stand with our CGPA calculator.

Elsewhere

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, schools in several districts were closed on Monday for security reasons, while Punjab schools opened normally and a holiday notice circulating on WhatsApp was fake, as we reported earlier.

We will add the names of the remaining closed institutions when the FDE publishes them.