ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Friday said that the final decision regarding the reopening of educational institutes would be taken on Monday in the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers' Conference (IPEMC).
Addressing a pressing conference at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the minister said proposals were being discussed to gradually resume the educational activities in phases.
After taking final decision in the IPEMC, initially, the higher educational institutes (from 9th and above) will be opened while, after reviewing the pandemic situation for one week.
Keeping in view the situation, the classes of six, seven and eight may be resumed a week after. And if the situation remains better, there is a proposal to open the primary-level schools from 30th September, he added.
He said that no such steps would be taken that affect children's health as it was top priority of the government. The overall coronavirus-related indicators, stating that the number of cases had been declined, he added.
He said, "the pandemic had badly affected the education of students. We will review the educational loss of students during the last six months in consultation with the provinces. The students' learning level will be checked and the schools will be advised in that regard."
"We are well aware about the financial losses of private sector especially the lower grade schools," he added. The education minister stressed to ensure implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
He said teachers and head teachers would play a vital role in ensuring the implementation on the SOPs. The Minister for Education said that the health of the children was the foremost priority and no risk would be taken vis-à-vis their health.
Mahmood said that the educational institutes would be required to comply with the SOPs. The minister also said that some fake social media accounts in his name were peddling false news claiming that schools would remain shut until October.
"Not true. Education ministers meet on 7th to finally decide [on reopening of educational institutions] with likelihood of opening on September 15 in a phased manner," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Affairs Dr Faisal Sultan said that the risk of COVID-19 spread would remain high when 50 million children would go to schools.
He warned against lack of implementation on the SOPs and said that the virus had not died down completely and could witness another surge. "We have an option to reopen the educational institutes in phases," Dr Faisal Sultan said.
Federal Education Ministry has finalized COVID-19 SOPs under which all educational institutes, including public and private schools, colleges, universities, and madrassas, across Pakistan would be reopened from 15th September.
The COVID-19 SOPs for reopening of educational institutes are as follows: both students and staff members will be screened for coronavirus symptoms before entering the premises of the institute; any student or a staff member exhibiting symptoms will not be allowed to enter the premises and will be taken immediately to a nearby Covid-19 isolation center for further assessment, both students and staff members are required to wear face masks all the time, while ensuring social distancing and frequent hand washing, all schools will operate in two shifts of four hours each, parents are required to pick and drop children to avoid the use of public transport, daily assemblies and other events will remain suspended until further orders, students will be accorded breaks and are encouraged to bring food from home to avoid overcrowding in canteens.
The Education Ministry has directed the administrations of all educational institutes to ensure adherence to the COVID-19 SOPs to prevent students and staff members from contracting the virus.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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