Punjab Announces New Winter Working Hours for School Teachers

The Punjab School Education Department (SED) has officially issued a notification announcing separate winter working hours for school teachers, effective from Monday, October 27, 2025, to April 15, 2026.

The revised timing schedule applies to all public sector schools across the province and is designed to ensure smooth academic operations during the winter months while maintaining teacher comfort and administrative efficiency.

Punjab Winter Teacher Timings 2025-26

According to the official circular, teachers’ working hours will differ slightly depending on whether the school operates in a single shift or a double shift system.

Here’s the complete breakdown:

School Type	Days	Timings
Single-Shift Schools	Monday–Thursday	8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
	Friday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Double-Shift (Morning)	Monday–Thursday	8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
	Friday	8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Double-Shift (Afternoon)	Monday–Thursday	12:45 PM – 4:00 PM
	Friday	1:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Alternate Saturdays	—	9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

These timings will remain in place until mid-April 2026, when schools switch back to their regular summer schedule.

Why the Change in Teacher Working Hours?

The updated working hours are part of Punjab’s annual winter adjustment policy, introduced to account for shorter daylight hours and colder mornings.

The Education Department stated that the revised schedule will:

Ensure teachers arrive and leave school safely in daylight.
Help manage classroom activities efficiently in cold weather.
Allow administrative and training work to continue without disruption.

“The new winter hours are designed to balance teaching duties with seasonal conditions while ensuring education delivery remains consistent across all districts,”
said an official from the School Education Department.

Saturday Attendance for Teachers

Teachers are also required to attend school on alternate Saturdays (9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon) for administrative, training, or academic planning purposes.

This half-day schedule aims to strengthen lesson planning, professional development, and record management, ensuring better academic performance throughout the winter term.

Timings for Double-Shift Schools

In double-shift schools, the government has introduced a flexible approach to accommodate both morning and afternoon staff.

Morning Shift: Teachers will follow the same hours as single-shift institutions (8:30 AM – 2:00 PM).
Afternoon Shift: Teachers will report later (12:45 PM – 4:00 PM), ensuring overlap between shifts is minimized.
On Fridays, both shifts will end earlier to align with the province’s standard shortened schedule.

This adjustment provides adequate time for student rotation, cleaning, and administrative transition between sessions.

Purpose Behind the Winter Timing Adjustment

Punjab experiences severe winter conditions, especially in central and northern districts like Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad, where temperatures can drop significantly in the mornings.

To minimize health risks and ensure smooth school operations, these seasonal working hours have been introduced to:

Improve teacher attendance during foggy mornings.
Reduce travel difficulties in low-visibility conditions.
Maintain consistent teaching quality across all districts.

Implementation & Compliance

The revised timings are mandatory for all government schools under the Punjab School Education Department (SED).
Private schools are also encouraged to follow the same schedule to maintain uniformity across the education system.

Head teachers and principals have been directed to ensure:

Proper record keeping of attendance.
Timely morning assemblies aligned with the new timings.
Flexibility in exceptional weather conditions or official events.

Final Words

The Punjab Winter Teacher Working Hours 2025-26 represent the government’s commitment to ensuring teacher well-being and effective school management during the cold season.

By separating teacher duty timings from student hours, the Education Department aims to maintain operational consistency while prioritizing safety and comfort for educators across the province.

The schedule will remain effective from October 27, 2025, to April 15, 2026, after which schools will revert to their summer timings.

For official updates and downloadable notifications, visit the Punjab School Education Department’s website: schools.punjab.gov.pk.