KP to Adopt Semester System in Private Schools
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to implement the semester system in private schools throughout the province, aligning their academic calendar with that of government institutions. This decision was approved by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) during a recent board meeting that included private school representatives.
Currently, most private schools in KP follow an annual examination system, conducting final exams in March with the academic year commencing in April. Conversely, government schools transitioned to the semester system last year for students up to grade 8, holding examinations that extend until the end of May.
The adoption of the semester system for private schools aims to reduce academic pressure on students and teachers. Additionally, it seeks to resolve challenges associated with transferring students between private and public sectors, which previously faced timing conflicts due to differing academic calendars.
Javed Iqbal, Managing Director of the PSRA, stated that a committee formed by the Elementary and Secondary Education Department will outline the timeline for implementing the new system in private schools. He emphasized that the shift is intended to create uniformity across educational institutions in the province.
Education Secretary Mohammad Khalid highlighted that the semester system has yielded positive outcomes in government schools, particularly in diminishing learning gaps and alleviating the academic burden on students. He expressed confidence that extending this system to private schools will similarly benefit their students.
This policy change reflects KP’s broader commitment to enhancing educational standards and creating seamless academic processes across both public and private sectors.