-Sindh, Balochistan decide against closing educational institutions
-3,301 new cases, 30 deaths reported
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood announced on Wednesday that educational institutes in areas with a high incidence of Covid-19, including Islamabad, will remain closed till April 11. He made the announcement at a press conference after chairing a meeting at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the health and education department, and provincial education ministers.
Earlier this month, the NCOC had decided on a two-week spring vacation in educational institutions in 10 cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir and Islamabad from March 15 till March 28. Shortly after yesterday’s meeting ended, the provinces announced the areas where schools will remain closed. Sindh announced that its schools will remain open as usual, with 50 per cent student attendance allowed.
Areas other than Islamabad where schools will remain closed:
Punjab: Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sheikhupura
KP: Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Lower Dir, Malakand, Swat, Nowshera, Buner
During the press conference, Mahmood said that the forum noted the high incidence of coronavirus cases in several districts of Punjab, KP and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “However, the number of cases in Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan is relatively low. “Therefore, it was decided that educational institutions in selected areas, where restrictions were imposed previously, will continue to be closed till April 11,” he said, adding that this applied to schools, colleges, academies and universities alike.
Mahmood stated that the provincial governments will also decide if schools need to be closed down in other areas.
“As you know there were nine districts in Punjab [where schools were closed down], then another was added. We closed them in Peshawar and then eight other districts were added.” He said that the provincial governments will take the necessary steps based on the numbers. “If they wish to call teachers and administrative staff, they can do so.”
The minister said that the forum will continue to review the country’s coronavirus outbreak. “We know that closing down schools has caused harm to children’s education, but we can’t risk their health.”
He reiterated that the provincial government will decide the areas where educational institutions will be closed, adding that the closure will last till April 11. He said that board examinations will take place according to their timetable as giving students the “baseline” grade was no longer an option.
“We will also have a meeting with the Cambridge education board to see if we can move the exams forward,” he said, but refrained from making any further comments before the meeting.
Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas stated on social media,“All Public and Private schools of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargoda, Sheikhupura will remain closed till April 11th, 2021. The schools in remaining districts will open on previous schedule.”
Pakistan’s Covid-19 cases have drastically risen in recent weeks, with the country reporting more than 3,000 virus cases for the past seven days straight. On Wednesday, 3,301 cases and 30 deaths were reported in the country. Educational institutions in Sindh to remain open
Meanwhile, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that all educational institutions across the province will remain open as usual. “At present, the situation of coronavirus in Sindh is under control but if SOPs are not implemented, problems may arise,” a statement quoted him as saying.
Ghani said it was agreed in the NCOC meeting that no student would be promoted to any level without examinations this year. He noted the number of coronavirus patients in Sindh was less than in Punjab and KP. “Given the situation, we have decided that all educational institutions across Sindh will remain open as usual, but only 50 per cent children will be invited under SOPs,” he said. He said all private and public educational institutions would be bound to fully implement SOPs and if any case of coronavirus was found in any institution, the school or college would be closed.
Regarding the schedule of examinations in the province, Ghani said all the examinations in Sindh would be conducted on time as per the decision and schedule of the steering committee of the education department. Balochistan decides against closing educational institutions:
Balochistan government on Wednesday decided against closing the schools and other educational institutions.
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr. Rubaba Buledi has said that the ratio of positive cases of COVID-19 in Balochistan, has been between 3 to 3.8 percent.
The government conducting screening of passengers at airport, railway stations and bus terminals, the parliamentary secretary said. In all regions of the province, officials monitoring coronavirus spread, Rubaba Buledi said. “The situation of the pandemic has been under control in the province with no smart lockdown in any area,” the parliamentary secretary said.
“We are not in favour of closing the schools and other academic institutions,” Buledi said. “The government will ensure strict enforcement of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the province,” the official added.
