Punjab orders stricter checks on schools over summer camp complaints

LAHORE: The Punjab government has directed education authorities across the province to step up monitoring of private schools after complaints that some institutions were pressuring students to attend summer camps despite official instructions issued during the ongoing heatwave.

Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat ordered District Education Authorities to ensure full implementation of the government’s rules on summer camps. The move followed complaints that some private schools were allegedly pushing parents and children to join summer sessions even though official policy says attendance must remain optional.

Under the provincial government’s directions, schools may hold summer camps from Monday to Thursday between 7:00am and 10:00am, for no longer than one month. The minister said no school is permitted to compel students to attend and that participation depends entirely on parental consent.

Some private schools sent messages to parents encouraging regular attendance, saying the classes were needed to make up for academic gaps during the holidays and reinforce students’ studies. Some institutions also told families that lessons taught during the camps would not be repeated once the regular term resumes, prompting concern among parents that children who do not attend could fall behind.

Parents from several areas said this created indirect pressure. They said that although schools formally describe attendance as voluntary, repeated references to possible academic disadvantage leave families feeling they have little real choice, particularly at a time of severe heat.

Lahore resident Waseem Ilyas said the school’s message was contradictory. "The school says attendance is optional but at the same time tells us that important lessons will not be repeated later. This creates fear among parents that their children will be left behind if they stay at home. In reality, it does not feel like a choice," he informed.

Another parent said private schools were turning even the summer break into an extension of the academic year.

"Summer vacations are meant for children's rest and protection from extreme weather, but private schools continue finding ways to keep students coming to campuses. The government should ensure that no school uses academic pressure to force attendance amid such severe heat,"

The complaints have surfaced as many cities continue to experience prolonged extreme heat, according to meteorological reports cited in the source. Health experts and medical professionals have advised limiting outdoor activity, especially for children, warning that high temperatures can raise the risk of dehydration, fatigue and heatstroke. Parents said that even with camps scheduled in the morning, many students still struggle during travel as temperatures rise, particularly those commuting longer distances.

Families have argued that the summer vacation period is intended to shield children from harsh weather and give them a break from academic demands, and that increasingly extensive summer programmes are undermining that purpose.

Complaint mechanism activated

In response, Rana Sikandar said parents can report violations to the education department’s complaint cell. He said schools found breaching official instructions or forcing students to participate would face action under the relevant rules.

The minister also said complaint numbers had been issued to help parents report alleged violations and enable authorities to investigate them. He instructed District Education Authorities to inspect schools running summer camps, check compliance with approved timings and conditions, and confirm that attendance remains voluntary without coercive practices.