AJK Announces Two Weekly Holidays for Colleges

News Desk
MUZAFFARABAD: In a major administrative shift aimed at aligning academic schedules with modern standards, the Higher Education Department of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has officially announced an immediate increase in weekly holidays for all public and private colleges across the region.
According to the official notification issued on Monday, educational institutions will now observe a two-day weekend, providing much-needed relief to thousands of students and academic staff.
The policy change applies uniformly to every government and affiliated private college operating within the territorial jurisdiction of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
For months, student bodies and faculty associations had petitioned the educational authorities for structural reforms in the weekly timetable, citing intense academic pressure and the need for adequate recovery time.
The latest directive successfully addresses these long-standing appeals, bringing regional academic calendars in line with federal and provincial institutions in Pakistan.
The implementation of a two-day break is expected to significantly improve the mental and physical well-being of the student body while optimizing energy consumption across campuses.
Educational analysts note that aligning the region’s college schedules with broader national standards will also facilitate better administrative planning and resource management.
Furthermore, the extended weekend is anticipated to provide students with valuable opportunities for extracurricular development, self-study, and practical skill enhancement outside the traditional classroom environment.
Following the issuance of the formal notification, college administrations across various districts have initiated the restructuring of weekly timetables to ensure that the total required credit hours and curriculum objectives are met without compromising educational quality.
Principal associations and academic councils are scheduled to meet later this week to oversee the seamless execution of the new timetable.
Meanwhile, the Higher Education Department has directed all district education officers to monitor compliance and report any administrative hurdles in implementing the revised holiday schedule.