KP Schools to Switch to Semester System for Classes 1–8
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced a significant change in its school assessment structure, replacing the century-old annual examination system for classes up to grade 8 with a two-semester format.
Education secretary Mohammad Khalid said the decision, approved by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, aims to reduce academic stress and improve learning outcomes. Under the new system, the syllabus will be split into two parts, with examinations held at the end of each term. Both sets of marks will have equal weight in the final results.
Officials explained that the mid-term exams currently held in schools are largely ignored because their scores do not contribute to final grades. The revised structure seeks to give equal importance to each term, encouraging consistent study habits.
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To reduce textbook load, separate books will be published for each semester, addressing parents’ concerns about heavy school bags. “We also want to ensure that vacations do not cause learning gaps,” Khalid said. Exams will now be scheduled before summer and winter breaks, allowing students to enjoy holidays without academic pressure.
The department plans to use these breaks for skill-building activities, including digital literacy, vocational training, plantation drives, and extracurricular programmes.
The new academic calendar will also vary according to climatic conditions. In summer zones, the school year will begin on September 1, while in winter zones it will start on March 1.