PESHAWAR—The Private Schools Association has advised four-day schooling in a week to navigate the deepening energy and fuel crises. This proposal is a direct alternative to total institutional closures, which the association warns would inflict irreparable damage on academic continuity.
Stakeholders are calling for a policy rooted in specific “ground realities” rather than unilateral administrative directives. Central to this argument is the documented failure of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Pakistan, frequent power outages and unreliable internet access made digital learning impossible for most parents and schools.
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The Association contends that the nation can no longer afford the academic vacuum created by complete shutdowns. Instead, they suggest that transitioning to four-day schooling in a week offers a viable middle ground. This model meets energy conservation targets without compromising the instructional hours crucial for student development.
The ripple effects of total closure extend beyond primary education, threatening to derail specialized vocational and higher education sectors. Disciplines requiring rigorous practical training, such as information technology, face quality degradation under online-only models.
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Students currently in their final semesters of university—many of whom already suffered academic setbacks during the pandemic—stand at the highest risk of further marginalization. A four-day school week would allow these practical sessions to continue.
For any energy-saving strategy to succeed, the association insists that the provincial steering committee must take all stakeholders into confidence. Decisions regarding the academic calendar cannot be made in isolation; they require a nuanced comprehension of the fuel crisis balanced against the non-negotiable priority of education.
By adopting four-day schooling in a week, the government can implement a structured, predictable schedule that respects the logistical constraints of families. This approach safeguards the future of the youth from further academic decline.
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Ultimately, the proposal for four-day schooling serves as a test for the government’s commitment to pragmatic governance. It urges a shift away from imposing one-sided decisions and toward a collaborative strategy that addresses both the energy deficit and the educational crisis.
The state needs to look into this limited-attendance model to stop educational standards from getting worse. It stands as a necessary safeguard against the total suspension of learning activities and the decline of student performance across the province.
