Subject: Request for Relaxation of the Two Weekly School Closure Days (Friday and Saturday) in Chitral
Honorable Chief Secretary,
I write with utmost respect and deep concern on behalf of thousands of students, parents, teachers, and education stakeholders in Chitral regarding the implementation of the policy of two weekly school closure days under the Government’s austerity measures.
While we fully appreciate the Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and prudent resource management, the implementation of this policy has already begun to adversely affect students’ learning. Parents across Chitral are expressing serious concerns regarding the loss of valuable instructional time. Every missed school day represents a lost opportunity for learning, engagement, and growth, particularly for students in remote and underserved communities where online learning is not a viable option due to limited internet connectivity and inadequate digital infrastructure.
In this regard, I would respectfully draw your kind attention to the following considerations for granting relaxation to Chitral:
- Unlike major urban centers, an overwhelming majority of students and teachers in Chitral are estimated at nearly 90 percent walk to school. School transportation and daily commuting therefore contribute very little to fuel consumption. Consequently, the actual savings achieved through additional school closures in Chitral are likely to be negligible when compared with the significant educational losses suffered by students.
- Chitral is a designated winter zone and already experiences prolonged academic disruption due to extended winter vacations of more than two months. Schools also observe summer breaks and face weather-related interruptions unique to the region. As a result, the total number of instructional days available to students in Chitral is considerably lower than in many other parts of the province. Imposing additional weekly closures further reduces the limited time available for effective teaching and learning.
- Chitral regularly faces natural calamities and emergencies, including floods, landslides, heavy rainfall, road blockages, and extreme weather conditions that often force unexpected school closures in summers. These unavoidable disruptions already place immense pressure on schools to complete the curriculum and adequately prepare students for examinations. The current policy further compounds an already challenging situation.
- It is also important to note that schools in the summer-zone districts of the province have already commenced their summer vacations. Therefore, granting exemption to Chitral at this stage would have only minimal financial implications for the Government. However, the positive impact on students’ learning outcomes, academic achievement, and educational continuity would be substantial and far-reaching.
- Due to the harsh climatic conditions of Chitral, effective teaching and learning become increasingly difficult after October. The months of May and June provide the most conducive environment for uninterrupted academic activities. Losing instructional days during this critical period has a disproportionately negative impact on students’ learning and academic progress. Once this valuable learning time is lost, it cannot easily be recovered.
In view of these unique geographical, climatic, and educational realities, we respectfully request your good office to review the policy and allow schools in Chitral to resume their normal academic schedule during the month of June. Since July already falls within the summer vacation period, the financial implications of such a relaxation would be minimal, while the educational benefits for thousands of students would be immense.
The educational loss resulting from missed learning days is irreversible, whereas the financial savings achieved through this measure in Chitral are likely to be marginal. We therefore earnestly appeal to your office to consider Chitral’s exceptional circumstances and grant this much-needed relief in the larger interest of students and their learning. We remain hopeful that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under your able leadership, will continue to prioritize the educational interests of our children and take a compassionate and pragmatic decision in this regard.
With profound respect and sincere hope.
Brig (R) Khush Muhammad Khan
General Manager
Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral Regions
Regional Education Office, KIU Road,
Konodas, Gilgit, Pakistan.
