Punjab Schools Get New Winter Timings: Cold Weather Safety First
The Punjab government has made a decision to change school timing during winter months, which is specifically used to give priority to school children in cold and foggy mornings. The news already getting favorable buzz on the internet, directly comes to the Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, through a post on his official Facebook page.
The Minister who has adopted a straightforward and forthright communication strategy, a refreshing development that keeps the parents and teachers abreast at all times, unveiled the long-awaited new schedule. In the changed plan, the schools in the province will now open later in the morning.
A Shift of Safety for Punjab Schools: The New Schedule
The new schedule will have every school in Punjab schools opening their doors at 8:45 a.m. and will move the time to later to ensure that the children are not caught in the coldest and foggier hour of the day. In line with this, the school day will end at 1:30 p.m.
The reason behind this shift is a practical measure to counter the low temperatures as well as the constant problem of heavy winter clouding that can cause early morning rides to be risky to young students. A departmental source who is conversant with the policy told reporters that they are aware that the safety of their children is paramount particularly when the weather becomes harsh.
The main factor that would make the decision possible is ensuring that students are not exposed to the cold in the morning, which may pose health risks and threat to travel to school. It is no new seasonal change, as a similar change has been implemented in the past few years where school time would be extended later to prevent the health of children.
Nonetheless, the announcement done via social media shows the efforts of the department to have a modern, responsive governance. Through bypassing the time-consuming bureaucratic process, Minister Hayat makes sure that the critical information is delivered instantly to a very large number of parents, teachers, and school administrators.
Waiting on the Formal Word for Punjab Schools
Although the announcement is a formality on the part of the Minister, the ultimate component of the puzzle is the official paperwork. The full notification remains pending and the same is set to get published shortly by the Punjab School Education Department. The new winter timings will then come into force as usual, and as soon as this official notification is issued.
To most parents, this later start time will lead to reduced stress during the morning rush and most importantly; an assurance that the child will not be exposed to the biting cold or low visibility during his or her way to school. It is as much of a reminder as to how sometimes the most basic of administrative changes, such as putting back the school bell by an hour, may produce the most significant human effect. With the weather taking up its seasonal plunge, the school bell that rings later than usual will be a relief to numerous families in Punjab schools.
