The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education has announced that all government primary schools across the country will remain closed from May 23 to June 6.
The ministry disclosed the decision in a press release issued on Friday night.
Earlier on Thursday, the Directorate of Primary Education had said primary schools would remain open on Saturday, in line with a government directive to keep public and private offices open on May 23 and 24 ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, scheduled from May 25 to May 31.
The move, however, sparked protests among teachers, who demanded that educational institutions remain closed on Saturday. A group of 10 teachers also submitted a written application to the Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education.
In their letter, the teachers noted that, according to the 2026 academic calendar, primary schools were scheduled for a 12-day Eid-ul-Azha and summer vacation from May 24 to June 4—short of the 15 consecutive days required to qualify for the “rest and recreation allowance.”
They further pointed out that teachers who received the allowance in 2023 would not be eligible to apply again in 2026, forcing many to wait an additional year. Those set to retire during this period also risked missing out on the benefit.
The application also highlighted that secondary and higher secondary institutions would remain closed from May 22 to June 6 for Eid holidays, urging authorities on humanitarian grounds to align the primary school holiday schedule accordingly.
Following the protests and appeals, the ministry revised its decision, confirming the closure of government primary schools from May 23.
