Will Sindh shift winter school holidays to January from next year?

WEB DESK: The Sindh Education and Literacy Department is reviewing a proposal to revise the timing of winter vacations for schools beginning with the 2026–27 academic session, amid growing concerns over colder weather conditions now peaking in January rather than December.

Education officials said the proposal is based on changing climate patterns observed over recent years. The issue will be placed before the department’s Steering Committee at its forthcoming meeting for deliberation. If endorsed, winter holidays in schools across the province, including Karachi, would be scheduled for January instead of the final days of December.

According to Express tribune, officials familiar with the matter noted that December has seen comparatively milder temperatures in recent years, while colder conditions. including sharp winds and temperatures falling into single digits, are increasingly being recorded in January. Despite this shift, the existing academic calendar requires schools to resume classes on January 1, often exposing students to harsh winter weather.

During the ongoing academic session, schools reopened before the cold spell reached its peak. To address the situation, the department temporarily adjusted school timings with the approval of Education Minister Sardar Shah. Under a special notification, school hours were revised for a two-week period from January 12 to January 26, with classes starting at 9am.

The department has now decided to formally present the issue to the Steering Committee ahead of the next academic year. If approved, the revised schedule would place winter vacations in the first ten days of January 2027 throughout Sindh.