Education Minister Punjab, Murad Raas, has announced to reopen all public and private schools from next week in three phases across the province.
According to the details, classes 9 to 12 will be resumed in the first phase starting from 15 September.
Moreover, all public and private schools have been ordered against allowing double shifts on a single day. Last month, the Punjab government had issued comprehensive COVID-19 SOPs for the reopening of schools.
Academic institutions all over Pakistan had been closed down following the outbreak of coronavirus in the country in late February.
In July, Federal Education Minister, Shafqat Mahmood, had announced a tentative date of 15 September for the reopening of education institutes after a steady decline in COVID-19 cases across Pakistan. The final decision of reopening of schools was made subject to the final approval from the National Command Operation Center (NCOC).
A meeting of all provincial education ministers headed by the Federal Education Minister is currently being held at the NCOC to review recommendations and finalize COVID-19 SOPs for the reopening of the schools across the country.
Update:
Federal Education Minister, Shafqat Mehmood, has announced the phase-wise reopening of all educational institutes including schools, colleges, universities, and madrassas across the country from 15 September.
The decision has been taken in a meeting of the inter-provincial education ministers’ conference (IPEMC) held at the National Command Operation Center (NCOC).
Students of classes 9 to 12 will be called to schools in the first phase beginning from 15 September. Universities, professional colleges, vocational institutes, and madrassas will also reopen during this phase.
After reviewing the first phase, the second phase will start from 23 September in which classes 6 to 8 will be resumed while classes 1 to 5 will be resumed from 30 September.
The minister has directed administrations of all educational institutions to ensure adherence to COVID-19 SOPs to prevent the resurgence of the viral infection.
He warned that the government will be forced to take stern action in case of violations of the SOPs, adding that administrations, teachers, and parents have to play their part in ensuring the smooth reopening of educational institutes.
In the second phase, students of classes 6 to 8 will be called to schools from 22 September while classes from nursery to 5 will start in the last phase beginning from 30 September.
Administrations of all public and private schools have been directed to operate schools on alternative days to avoid overcrowding.
