The Punjab government has extended the winter vacations in schools and colleges by one week keeping in view the students health as a chilling cold wave has gripped the province. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat announced the decision on Saturday which was made on the basis of a public survey conducted on the minister’s social media page. The minister said one-week extension was given keeping in view the health of students.

Rana Sikandar Hayat said the educational institutions will now reopen on January 19.  Earlier, the government also considered to extend holidays in districts with temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius. Heads of all District Education Authorities have been asked for details of temperature in their districts.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar said on Saturday that a large majority of the parents of school going children whose opinion was sought regarding extending winter vacations had said that vacations must be extended.

He said that so far out of 24,756 parents, who had cast their votes, 83 per cent had said they were in favour of the opening of schools and colleges on January 19, while 17 per cent supported the idea of the opening of educational institutions on January 12. Quoting the parents, the minister said that children were falling sick due to extreme cold; therefore, vacations must be extended by one week.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)