The Sindh government on Wednesday reduced the class timings for public schools and colleges by an hour until further orders.

In a circular, the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department said school timings prescribed in an earlier notification would “stand reduced by one hour during the prescribed five days’ school-observing week”.

“All other terms, conditions and directions contained in the aforesaid circular shall remain unchanged and continue to be applicable,” the circular read.

It directed all heads of educational institutions and the field officers concerned to ensure “strict implementation of the revised school timings in letter and spirit”.

Single-shift schools

The timings for primary, secondary and higher secondary schools operating a single shift are:

Until Oct 31 — 8am to 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday; 8am to 12pm on Friday

Nov 1-March 31 — 8:30am to 2:00pm from Monday to Thursday; 8:30am to 12:30pm on Friday

Double-shift primary schools

The timings for primary schools operating double shifts are:

Morning shift

Until Oct 31 — 7:30am to 12:30pm from Monday to Thursday; 8am to 12pm on Friday

Nov 1-March 31 — 8:30am to 2:30pm from Monday to Thursday; 8:30am to 10:30am on Friday

Evening shift

Until Oct 31 — 1pm to 5pm from Monday to Thursday; 10:45am to 1:15pm on Friday

Nov 1-March 31 — 12:45pm to 4:45pm from Monday to Thursday; 10:45am to 1:15pm on Friday

Double-shift secondary schools

The timings for elementary secondary and higher secondary schools operating a double shift are:

Morning shift

Until Oct 31 — 7:30am to 12:30pm from Monday to Thursday; 7:30am to 10:30am on Friday

Nov 1-March 31 — 8am to 12:45pm from Monday to Thursday; 8:00am to 10:30am on Friday

Evening shift

Until Oct 31 — 1pm to 5pm from Monday to Thursday; 10:45am to 12:15pm on Friday

Nov 1-March 31 — 12:45pm to 4:45pm from Monday to Thursday; 10:45am to 1:15pm on Friday

College timings

Separately, a notification issued by the College Education Department said the timings would be reduced by an hour with immediate effect.

The new timings for the morning shift in colleges are 8:30am to 1:30pm from Monday to Thursday, and 8:30am to 11:30am on Friday.

For the evening shift, classes will be held from 3pm to 7pm Monday through Thursday, and from 2:30pm to 5pm on Friday.

In late July, the Sindh government announced a six-day week for all public and private educational institutions under its administration.

However, the next day, it said private schools could decide their weekly teaching and working days according to their own schedules and convenience.

On August 5, the government restored the five-day working week for schools and colleges, reversing its earlier decision.

Schools in Sindh had observed a “spring vacation” from March 16 to 31, while colleges and universities switched to online classes as part of the austerity and fuel conservation measures adopted to deal with the economic impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

In line with the austerity drive, the provincial government said Saturday and Sunday would be “off” days following the resumption of classes on April 1.