ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Saturday said that the health of the students was the government's top priority and any decision made in that regard would be guided by the Ministry of Health.
The minister took to Twitter and stated that the six-month-long break due to the Covid-19 had affected the students; therefore, any hasty decision to close schools would destroy education.
"Health of students is our first priority and any decision we make will be guided by the advice of Health Ministry. Having said that six months closure deeply affected the students. Decision to open was taken with great care. Any hasty decision to close will destroy education," he added.
He further said 90 percent of the government and low-fee paying private schools did not have online teaching facilities.
When these institutions close down most students get no education at all. Learning loss is immense and can take years to recover. While health is a priority, this factor must be kept in mind, he added.
There is no change regarding the timetable announced earlier after inter-provincial meeting of the education ministers.
We will meet in the NCOC on 22nd to decide finally but if the current trend remains, no reason to postpone opening of classes 6 to 8 on 23rd September, the minister added.
The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has so far closed around 35 schools in the country over flouting health guidelines, and the standard operating procedures (SOPs). The minister responded after the federal and the Sindh governments found themselves at odds with each other over the second phase of the reopening of the educational institutions next week as more coronavirus cases at schools and colleges emerged.
Educational institutions were opened on September 15 for the students of Matric and above grades.
In the second phase, secondary schools are scheduled for reopening on September 23, while primary schools will reopen on September 29.
However, during this week, several Covid-19 cases emerged at difference schools. Consequently, the Sindh government postponed the reopening of schools for classes VI-VIII amid concerns over violation of the SOPs.
Mahmood took to Twitter, insisting that there would be no change in the timetable announced earlier after an inter-provincial meeting of education ministers.
Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that he had reviewed the situation regarding implementation of the SOPs. "Some had made good arrangements, while others did not," he said.
Ghani said that the situation might worsen with the increase in the number of students coming to attend classes, hence, the decision to resume secondary classes from September 21 had been postponed till September 28.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020