ISLAMABAD: The decision regarding closure of schools in Pakistan amid the rising number of coronavirus cases will be taken tomorrow (23rd November) during the meeting of all education ministers and the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).
“To all those eagerly awaiting the outcome of tomorrow’s inter provincial education ministers meeting: I will be holding a press conference at 12:30pm after the conclusion of the meeting,” said the Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood in his tweet.
A meeting of the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) was held last Monday to take a decision regarding early and extended winter vacations for schools in Pakistan but the matter was deferred till 23rd November.
Read more: Pakistan may go into ‘complete lockdown’, PM Khan blames PDM.
However, some provincial education ministers are against the idea of closing schools in Pakistan to avoid the loss the education and make up for the time already wasted during the first lockdown period.
Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas stated that a decision will be made based on the actual data being presented regarding the coronavirus situation in the province.
However, the Punjab education minister mentioned that he was against closing of schools in Pakistan and especially in the province and would try and push his views in the meeting with the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Monday (23rd November).
Read more: Schools in Punjab will close only if absolutely necessary.
On the other hand, the Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani also stated that the provincial education department has decided against any winter vacations after a meeting of all key stakeholders in the sector.
Moreover, it was decided that students will not be promoted again without proper examinations being conducted unlike previously when closed were closed during the first wave of coronavirus in Pakistan.
The education minister was against the idea of a complete closure of schools and stated that instead of taking such a drastic decision, there should be stricter implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at educational institutes instead.
Read more: Sindh education dept wants no winter vacations, schools closure.
