A week after Sindh's education department mandated a six-day school week for all institutions, the provincial government has now carved out an exception for private schools, allowing them to set their own schedules. The reversal, announced quietly through a circular, underscores the government's attempt to balance uniformity with operational flexibility. Main Developments The Sindh School Education and Literacy Department issued a circular on Friday, clarifying that privately managed schools may determine their weekly teaching and working days according to their own schedules and operational convenience. The circular, shared by Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah on social media, explicitly states that the July 29 directive for a six-day working week does not apply to private institutions. Under the revised policy, public sector schools will continue to follow the six-day working week, which takes effect from August 1 until further orders. Private schools, however, now have the freedom to decide their own weekly schedules, ending the confusion that followed the original notification. Read also: Pakistan's Textile Green Transition Needs Brands and State Support Background The original notification, issued on July 29 by the School Education and Literacy Department, had stated that all public and private educational institutions under its administrative control would observe a six-day working week. That directive sparked confusion among private school administrators, who questioned whether it applied to them. This is not the first time the provincial government has adjusted school schedules. Earlier reporting indicated that Sindh had previously restored a six-day school week, reflecting ongoing policy shifts in the province's education sector. Why It Matters The decision gives private schools the flexibility to tailor their schedules to their operational needs, which could affect thousands of students across the province. For public schools, the six-day week remains mandatory, potentially widening the gap between public and private education practices. Parents and educators in private institutions now face uncertainty about whether individual schools will adopt a five- or six-day week, impacting family routines and extracurricular activities. The move also highlights the government's pragmatic approach to accommodating the private sector while maintaining its policy for public schools. What's Next Private schools are expected to announce their weekly schedules in the coming days, ahead of the August 1 implementation date for public schools. The education department may issue further clarifications if disputes arise over the interpretation of the circular.