LAHORE: Extreme hot weather has disrupted academic activities across Punjab, particularly affecting children enrolled in small private schools that lack basic classroom facilities. The situation has become increasingly alarming in urban schools operating out of small buildings, including those in Lahore, where even essential amenities like fans and drinking water are unavailable. Students in rural and remote districts are also suffering, especially during the mid-day and closing hours when temperatures peak.
The Punjab government is reportedly considering early closure of educational institutions due to the ongoing heatwave. A meeting to discuss the matter is expected later this week.
The temperature surge over the past week has made it nearly impossible for young children to concentrate or learn effectively in overcrowded and poorly ventilated classrooms. The worst-hit are private schools functioning in clear violation of construction and operational standards, often housed in five-marla buildings without proper lighting, ventilation, water, or cooling systems. Many parents, driven by affordability, have no choice but to enroll their children in these low-cost institutions.
“At a time when the summer season is at its peak and a heatwave alert has been issued, the students are suffering because of lack of adequate arrangements by the school administrations to cope with the problems.”
A heatwave warning issued by authorities has forecasted a significant rise in temperature across Punjab from May 15 to 19. The Punjab Schools Education Department has been notified about the potential risk and advised to take precautionary measures, with warnings that the mercury could climb by four to seven degrees Celsius.
“An advice had also been issued to set up heatwave counters in hospitals, while cases of heart stroke are already being reported.”
Despite the warnings, the education department has so far struggled to enforce compliance or push schools to implement the necessary safety protocols. This has left the authorities with limited options, chief among them being the possible closure of schools.
“When a similar situation arose last year, the education ministry closed the schools in the last week of May and started online classes.”
According to the academic calendar, the official summer vacation period is set to begin from June 1 and will continue until August 9. However, if the heatwave intensifies, schools may be forced to shut earlier than scheduled to protect the health and safety of students.
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