KARACHI: A meeting of the Steering Committee of the Education Department was held under the chairmanship of Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah and made key decisions regarding the commencement of the new academic year, the academic calendar, examinations, holidays, school timings, and other important educational matters. Minister for Universities and Boards, Ismail Rahu, attended the meeting as a special participant.
It was decided that the new academic year in Sindh will commence on April 1, 2026.
The year 2026 will be observed as “Teach for Trees” to promote awareness among students about tree plantation and environmental protection.
As Chairman of the Steering Committee, Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah directed that children should be encouraged to plant trees within schools or designated areas and take responsibility for their care, with the aim of making schools more child-friendly and environmentally sustainable. Expressing satisfaction over the implementation of decisions taken in the previous academic year, the Minister emphasized the need to further strengthen effective implementation of the academic calendar.
He stated that 2025 was observed as the year of STEAM Education in Sindh, which yielded positive results.
He added that if approximately ten million students in Sindh plant one tree each, ten million new trees could be grown across the province.
The Steering Committee decided that examinations up to Grade 8 will be conducted in March as usual, including during the month of Ramadan.
Examinations for Grades 9 and 10 will be held from March 31 to April 15, 2026, while examinations for Grades 11 and 12 will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2026.
The committee also approved that Intermediate results will be announced from June 1.
It was further decided that summer vacations in the new academic year will be observed during June and July, while winter vacations will be held in the last ten days of December.
In view of climate change, a sub-committee of the Steering Committee will be formed to consult all stakeholders and present recommendations regarding possible adjustments to the holiday schedule, which may be considered for the academic year 2027.
The meeting directed authorities to ensure timely conduct of board examinations and avoid any delay in the announcement of results.
All educational boards were instructed to implement the Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) system to enhance transparency and improve examination outcomes.
Provincial Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahu also directed board chairmen to increase the use of technology in examination processes to minimize human involvement and improve result efficiency.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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