Punjab winter school timings: 40% of Rawalpindi private schools ignore 8:45am start, FIRs next

Punjab's winter school timings are 8:45am to 1:30pm, but about 40% of private schools in Rawalpindi district are still opening at 7:30am and closing at 2pm, and the Punjab School Education Department says it will now register FIRs against schools that do not comply, ProPakistani reported on Tuesday. About 60% of schools are following the new schedule.

The timings

The department moved the opening time later to keep children out of the coldest early-morning hours. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the violations and directed the department to enforce the timings strictly and act against schools that do not follow them, according to the report. Department officials confirmed several private schools were still in breach despite repeated warnings.

Why it matters now

Seasonal illness is rising with the cooler weather. Children are coming down with flu, colds and coughs, and in Karachi, public hospitals say flu-like cases have doubled in a week. A 7:30am start means many children leave home before 7am, in the coldest part of the day.

What parents can do

1. Check your school's timetable against the 8:45am to 1:30pm notification.
2. Report a school that refuses to the District Education Authority, Rawalpindi, or through the Punjab government's complaint portal, giving the school's name, address and its actual timings.

The notification applies to schools across Punjab, not only Rawalpindi, so parents in Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and other districts can check the same timings. For other school and board matters, see our BISE Lahore roll number slip guide, and our schools directory for Rawalpindi.