LAHORE: Schools across Punjab are scheduled to reopen on August 24 after the summer vacation, with education authorities directed to complete cleanliness, safety and security arrangements before students return to classrooms.

Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat has instructed school administrations to ensure that government and private educational institutions are fully prepared for the new academic session. The directives place particular emphasis on maintaining clean and safe learning environments.

School administrations have been asked to thoroughly clean classrooms, washrooms, playgrounds and other areas while ensuring the availability of safe drinking water for students and staff.

With the monsoon season continuing, authorities have also been directed to inspect rooftops and water tanks, improve drainage and eliminate stagnant water that could provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes and increase the risk of dengue.

Schools must follow prescribed dengue prevention SOPs and identify potential mosquito breeding sites before reopening.

Security has also been highlighted as a key priority. Schools are required to comply with security SOPs and ensure that CCTV cameras and other safety equipment are functioning properly.

Institutions where construction or repair work is ongoing must install appropriate barriers and prevent students from entering hazardous areas. Electrical systems must also be inspected, including fans, lights, switches, sockets and wiring, to reduce the risk of accidents.

Rana Sikandar Hayat directed school heads to conduct final inspections before August 24 and warned that negligence or failure to implement the instructions could lead to action against those responsible.