"Announcement of the New School Holiday Schedule"

The Ministry of Education has officially released the revised holiday calendar and academic schedule for the 2026 academic year for both public and private secondary and lower-secondary schools. The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry, providing clarity on annual holidays, examination dates, and guidelines for school operations.

According to the updated schedule, excluding the regular weekly holidays on Fridays and Saturdays, schools will observe a total of 67 days off during the year.

Major Holidays

The calendar specifies extended school closures for major national and religious occasions. Notably, in observance of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Independence Day, schools will remain closed for 26 consecutive days, from 19 February to 26 March, a period that has commenced as of today.

Additional breaks include:

Eid-ul-Adha and Summer Vacation: 24 May – 4 June (10 days)

Winter Vacation and Christmas: 20 December – 29 December (8 days)

Furthermore, specific days have been allocated for various other religious festivals and national observances throughout the year.

School Holiday and Exam Schedule

The Ministry has also released a tentative examination timetable alongside the holiday calendar.

Examination Guidelines

The Ministry emphasised that no exam period should exceed 12 working days. Schools are instructed to prepare their own question papers; using externally sourced questions is strictly prohibited. Examination dates should not be altered except in exceptional circumstances with prior approval from the Secondary and Higher Education Division.

Schools are also barred from closing classes for official visits, inspections, or ceremonial events. In particular, students must not be made to stand on roads or public areas during any official school visit.

However, schools may remain open during holidays for admissions or other examinations as necessary. Nationally significant days must be observed with proper dignity and ceremony.

The revised schedule reflects the Ministry’s commitment to balancing academic rigor with cultural, religious, and national observances, ensuring that students and staff can plan the year effectively.