The Punjab Education Initiatives Management Authority has announced new changes for the upcoming mid-term School-Based Assessment (SBA) for classes 1 to 8. Along with the exam schedule, the authority has also issued revised school timings that will come into effect soon. These changes have been made to help schools manage exams and the winter season more smoothly.
Mid-Term SBA Exams to Start in December
According to the updated schedule, the mid-term SBA tests for the academic year 2025–26 will begin on 12 December 2025. Students from grades 1 to 8 will sit for these assessments across Punjab. The complete date sheet has already been shared with schools so they can prepare in advance. Teachers have also begun revising the syllabus to make sure students are ready before the tests begin.
New School Timings from 8 December
The Punjab Education Department has introduced new winter timings for all schools. These timings will start from 8 December 2025.
For the morning shift, schools will operate from:
- 9:30 am to 11:30 am
This means students will spend only two hours in school during the morning session. The shorter duration is intended to protect children from cold weather and fog.
For the afternoon shift, the timings will be:
- 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
However, on Fridays, afternoon shift timings will be slightly different: - 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm
These changes apply to both government and private schools. School heads have been instructed to make sure that all classes follow the new schedule without any exceptions.
Punjab Announces Winter Vacations for 2025
The Punjab government has also issued the winter vacation schedule for all schools in the province. According to the new notification, winter holidays will begin on:
- 23 December 2025
and will continue until - 10 January 2026
This holiday schedule is the same for both public and private schools. All institutions will reopen on 11 January, allowing students and teachers to return after a refreshing break.
Balochistan Declares Long Winter Vacations
While Punjab has announced its winter break, the Government of Balochistan has also released a separate schedule, which includes a much longer holiday period. Balochistan experiences extremely cold weather in many regions, so the government has declared two and a half months of winter vacations for schools in colder districts.
These vacations will start from 16 December, and schools will reopen on 1 March. Every year, this long break is given to ensure student safety during harsh winters.
Exams Already Underway in Chaman
In the Chaman region of Balochistan, annual exams for classes 1 to 7 have already started. These exams began on 16 November and will continue until 24 November. For Class 8 students, examinations under the Balochistan Board will begin on 24 November.
Uniform Schedule for Students Across Punjab
To avoid confusion and ensure fairness, the Punjab Education Department has confirmed that all schools—whether government-run or private—must follow the same winter vacation dates. The goal is to provide every student with equal rest time during the cold season.
