Are summer camps in Punjab private schools allowed?
Private schools in Punjab advertise and register students for summer camps despite no formal government approval. Officials say permission is still pending, raising concerns over fees, refunds and student safety.
LAHORE: Private schools across Punjab have started advertising summer camps and collecting registrations even though the provincial government has not yet granted formal permission to hold them.
The controversy emerged after private school representatives formally approached the Punjab government seeking approval for summer camps during the upcoming summer vacations. School owners argue that repeated unscheduled closures and academic disruptions caused learning losses for students during the current academic year.
According to education sector representatives, schools have proposed running camps from 7am to 10am to avoid extreme heat and heatwave conditions. Officials quoted in media reports said summer camps are usually permitted for a month every year, but the final decision this time still requires approval from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Despite the absence of an official notification from the Punjab School Education Department, many private schools have already launched promotional campaigns on social media, WhatsApp groups and school portals, inviting parents to enroll children in paid summer programs.
Several schools are reportedly offering “revision camps”, “activity-based learning sessions” and “academic recovery programs” while charging separate registration fees and tuition packages.
The development has raised questions among parents and education observers over whether schools can market and monetize summer camps before receiving formal authorization from the government.
Parents have also expressed concern about refunds and fee adjustments in case the government ultimately refuses permission or imposes restrictions on camp operations.
Education officials maintain that no final approval has yet been issued. Sources within the School Education Department say discussions are still underway because of intensifying weather conditions across Punjab and concerns about student safety during peak summer months.
The issue highlights a growing regulatory grey area in Punjab’s private education sector, where commercial announcements by schools appear to be moving ahead of official government clearance.
For now, private schools have only sought permission — they have not yet received it.
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