ISLAMABAD: After having remained closed for six months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, educational institutions across the country will reopen in phases from Sept 15.

Addressing a press conference after a virtual meeting of the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference (IPEMC) and that of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said that in the first phase, all higher educational institutions, including universities, professional colleges, vocational institutes, as well as secondary and higher secondary schools (classes nine till 12) would resume classes on Sept 15.

In the next phase, on Sept 23, after a fresh review, classes six, seven and eight would be allowed to reopen, followed by primary schools on Sept 30, under the government’s standards operating procedure (SOPs), the minister announced.

Mr Mehmood was accompanied by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan at the press conference.

Minister says after review middle, primary classes will be allowed to resume on 23rd and 30th, respectively; number of students will be reduced to avoid spread of coronavirus; institutions warned of action in case of violation of SOPs

They said the reopening of educational institutions was the biggest among all decisions taken by the government to ease Covid-19 restrictions. They said the meetings also decided that the number of students would be reduced to avoid spread of Coronavirus and the institutions would strictly follow the SOPs, including sitting arrangements for students with a six-foot distance, wearing masks by students, teachers and school staff alike, sufficient facilities for hand washing and availability of sanitisers.

Sources said the strength of students would be halved to ensure proper social distancing and the IPEMC gave liberty to the heads of institutions to take decision on reducing the strength keeping in view the number of students and availability of class rooms for them.

The educational institutions across the country were closed on March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, during the last one month and so, the number of cases of the viral disease has significantly reduced, leading to the decision to reopen the educational institutions.

“It means we will open all the institutions in 15 days if the situation remains satisfactory,” the education minister said, adding that the decision would also apply to religious seminaries and vocational institutions of the country.

Terming it an important day, he said the government had been waiting for the Covid-19 situation to see improvement for reopening of the institutions.

The minister said the NCOC had also carried out a research and held consultations with experts and think tanks, adding that international and regional trends were also reviewed before taking the decision.

Mr Mehmood thanked the parents and students for the months-long wait to see reopening of the educational institutions. He also warned that in case of violation of the SOPs, the government would take action against the institutions concerned, adding that everyone, including parents, teachers and administrators, would have to play their role in achieving success.

Sources said that during the IPEMC, the provincial education ministers also agreed that all education boards of the country would be asked for a delay in the upcoming examinations for two weeks to provide some extra time to the students to cover their syllabi.

Dr Faisal Sultan said the educational institutions would be reopened from Sept 15 if the coronavirus situation remained satisfactory. He said that under the current Covid-19 situation, the educational institutions could be reopened in phases.

The SAPM further said that there was a need to reduce the strength of students in classrooms and labs and these might be in shifts or on alternate days to prevent the spread of the virus. He said students must wear masks and they should be gave awareness how these were necessary for them.

Dr Sultan advised the students not to go to schools or colleges if they are sick and having cough and fever. He said the government would also carry out sentinel screening at selected schools and colleges.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2020