PESHAWAR: The government on Tuesday announced summer vacations from July 1 to 11, closing classes from nursery to 8th in the public sector schools.

The decision, however, will not be applied on the private schools and cadet colleges, according to a notification issued by the elementary and secondary education department here.

“Cadet colleges and private schools in the province have been allowed to determine the closure of schools or otherwise in lieu of summer vacations on their own,” the notification added.

The high and higher secondary classes and preparations for the board examinations will continue as per schedule.

The education department issued two different notifications on Tuesday about the closures of schools for summer vacations.

In the first notification, closure of all the government and private schools and cadet colleges was ordered from July 1 to 11. However, a few hours later, the department issued another notification, only allowing the government schools to be closed for the summer vacations.

Minister for elementary and secondary education Shahram Khan Tarakai and secretary education Yahya Akhunzada were not available for comments to know their version on why the decision was not applicable on the private schools.

The educational institutions started reopening partially in May after being closed in March due to third wave of Covid-19. However, all the educational institutions reopened from June 17.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021