Educational institutions will reopen gradually from September 15 after countrywide lockdown. Schools, colleges and universities were closed since the pandemic became out of control and started spreading globally. The educational institutions in Pakistan and around the world started online teaching system instead.
After nearly six months, the Federal minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood announced on Monday that educational institutions will resume in phases.
Phase-wise Reopening of Educational Institutions
Shafqat Mehmood said in a meeting after Inter-provincial education ministers’ conference (IPEMC) that universities, colleges and classes from 9-12 will resume earlier from Sep 15. The higher educational institutions are the first one to start regular classes.
A week later, from Sept 23 education will be resumed for secondary classes six, seven and eight.
After further monitoring and review, primary classes will reopen from Sept 30. The minister announced that students will be divided in different classes and strength will be halved.
If things remain normal, educational institutes will continue with their decision to start regular teaching within 15 days. The decision is also applicable to madressahs.
Government’s Decision to resume Education
The minister said ‘it is a very important day as we have been waiting for the situation to come back to normal from Covid-19 before reopening the education system.’
Government had been thinking wisely and waiting for the situation to be normal. We are thankful to the students and parents for being patient and cooperating with the government’s decision as there were difficult times.
The federal minister for education also cautioned the government to take strict actions if SOPs are not followed seriously. The parents, teachers and administrations everyone has to take their responsibility and cooperate with the government to achieve success. The schedule for exams and course work has also been shifted prior to the Covid-19 situation.
Special Health Assistant to the Prime Minister Dr Faisal Sultan said that looking at the country’s current satisfactory situation, the government took the decision of Sept 15 as the tentative date for the reopening of educational institutions. Sources said, educational and health institutions will also take 3000 random tests of Covid-19 daily in campuses. Masks will also be mandatory in all schools and strict actions will be taken to implement SOPs.