The Punjab Education Department has officially released the examination timetable for matric and intermediate students for the year 2026. As per the department the matric exams will commence on March-3-2026 simultaneously with the intermediate examinations beginning on May-5-2026. This confirmation has brought relief to students and schools who were awaiting the final timetable to start their coaching in good time.
The announcement serves as an indication that the provinces are striving to arrange the academic calendar ahead of time. Thus enabling students to plan accordingly and avoid confusion.
Punjab Board Finalizes 2026 Exam Timetable
With the dates for the examinations being confirmed, the branch has allowed some major changes for the upcoming academic year. Among these are:
- A revised admission policy
- An updated faculty calendar
- Syllabus changes for various classes
The branch has also finalized printing new textbooks including the complete replacement of 29 books for classes six to matric. To ensure that they are received before the commencement of the academic session. The publishing process for these books is set for December 2025.
Officials say that it is part of the larger endeavor to modernize the curriculum and match it with current academic standards.
New Academic Year Starts April 1 With Free Textbook Distribution
Punjab has also established the timeline for the new school year. The 2026 academic session is set to start on April-1 across the province. As always, the government will be providing free textbooks, which will be distributed starting from April 5.
This distribution plan is meant to ensure that students do not face delays at the beginning of the school year. Schools would also be given guidelines to ensure that the process ends up being smooth and efficient.
Class 8 to Sit for Board-Based Exams From February 3
In another significant development Class 8 students in colleges will now be taking a board-based examination which is set to commence from February 3rd- 2026. This is in line with Punjab’s concerted efforts toward promoting standardized tests within the province to bring consistency in learner evaluation across different parts.
The Class VIII would be distinguished by conducting board examinations. Through which it is expected that teachers will close the learning gaps much earlier and beef up students for matric assessment in the future.
Education Challenges Continue to Grow
The education sector of Punjab continues to face the brunt of severe challenges even after subjecting itself to new rules and better-planned approaches. The province still holds the largest numbers of out-of-school children each year.
In Punjab, the number of out-of-school children came to 28 million in 2025 and experts warn it could cross 30 million in 2026 if urgent measures are not taken. Increasing rates of dropouts, lack of schools in distant regions and financial difficulties are some of the major causes behind this growing issue.
As per officials, the government is working on innovating strategies, encouraging enrollment, supporting low-income families, and improving school facilities. Yet many experts in education contend that more long-term planning and greater investments are necessary for managing the crisis.
Dates for Matric and Intermediate Exams
2026 is certainly going to be very significant for Punjab’s education system bringing fresh textbook syllabi, corresponding policies, early examination bulletins and standardized testing. Indeed, the government’s hopes are high that these intervention measures will improve learning outcomes and give greater firmness to an already established academic cycle.
New books, updated policies, early examination bulletins and then standardized testing – 2026 is shaping up to be a very important year for Punjab’s education system. The hopes of the government are that these measures will improve learning outcomes and put more structure into the education cycle.
Punjab Education Department 2026 Matric & Intermediate Exam Timetable Released
