Sindh Schools Six-Day Week Restored From August 1 Across Province

Sindh Schools Six-Day Week Restored From August 1 Across Province

The Sindh schools six-day week has officially been restored after the provincial government directed all public and private schools and colleges to resume classes from Monday to Saturday starting August 1, 2026. The decision will remain in effect until further notice and replaces an earlier policy that had introduced a two-day weekend for educational institutions.

Separate notifications issued by the School Education and Literacy Department and the College Education Department confirmed the revised weekly schedule. The move affects educational institutions operating under the administrative control of both departments across Sindh.

Schools and Colleges to Follow Six-Day Working Week

According to official notifications issued by the Sindh government, all schools and colleges under the respective education departments will observe a six-day working week beginning August 1.

The latest directives replace notifications issued on March 31, 2026, when Saturday and Sunday had been declared weekly holidays for educational institutions.

The revised schedule applies to both public and private institutions administered by the provincial education authorities.

College Timings Announced

Along with restoring Saturday classes, the College Education Department also outlined revised operating hours for colleges.

Morning Shift

• Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 1:30pm
• Saturday: 8:30am to 1:30pm
• Friday: 8:30am to 11:30am

Evening Shift

• Monday to Thursday: 3:00pm to 7:00pm
• Saturday: 3:00pm to 7:00pm
• Friday: 2:30pm to 5:00pm

The notification states that these timings will remain in force until further instructions are issued by the provincial government.

Why the Policy Has Changed

The March 2026 decision introducing a two-day weekend was part of broader austerity and fuel conservation measures announced by the Sindh government.

At the time, the provincial administration cited economic pressures linked to the regional impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran. As part of those measures, educational institutions were instructed to observe Saturday and Sunday as holidays.

However, the government has now reversed that policy.

According to the Sindh chief minister’s spokesperson, the earlier decision was intended to reduce student attendance on Saturdays. The spokesperson said that many teachers also stopped reporting to work on Saturdays, even though the original policy was meant to apply only to students.

The government believes this affected classroom teaching and slowed completion of the annual academic curriculum.

Government Says Academic Progress Was Affected

Provincial authorities say the restoration of the six-day week is aimed at ensuring schools and colleges have enough instructional time to complete the academic syllabus.

Education officials believe that the previous arrangement reduced teaching hours, making it more difficult for institutions to stay on schedule during the academic year.

By bringing back Saturday classes, the government expects educational institutions to improve curriculum coverage and maintain academic continuity.

What the Decision Means for Students and Teachers

Students across Sindh will now return to attending classes six days each week, while teachers and administrative staff will also resume regular Saturday duties under the updated schedule.

The change affects thousands of public and private educational institutions throughout the province, including schools and colleges operating in Karachi and other districts.

Parents, students and school administrations will need to adjust their weekly schedules to reflect the revised timetable.

Official Notifications Replace Earlier Orders

The notifications issued by both education departments specifically state that the latest directives supersede the orders released on March 31, 2026.

Officials have clarified that the six-day working week will remain in place until further notice, meaning no end date has been announced at this stage.

Any future revisions to school schedules are expected to be communicated through additional official notifications issued by the provincial government.

Background

Earlier this year, the Sindh government introduced a five-day school week as part of energy-saving and austerity measures adopted during a period of economic uncertainty. Educational institutions observed both Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays under that policy.

Following a review of its impact on classroom instruction and curriculum completion, the provincial government has now decided to restore Saturday classes.

The latest decision is intended to provide schools and colleges with additional teaching days while supporting the timely completion of academic activities across the province.

Conclusion

The restoration of the Sindh schools six-day week marks a significant change in the province’s education schedule. Beginning August 1, schools and colleges under the Sindh government’s administrative control will once again operate from Monday through Saturday.

Officials say the move is designed to strengthen academic continuity and help educational institutions complete the annual curriculum more effectively. The revised schedule will remain in force until the government issues further instructions.