Reopening schools: From Jan 18 & Feb 1

Reopening schools: From Jan 18 & Feb 1

Reopening schools: 9th to 12th classes to start from Jan 18; primary schools from Feb 1

ISLAMABAD: Keeping in view the increase in coronavirus cases, the federal government has decided to postpone the reopening of primary schools for a week while classes from 9th to 12th will start from January 18 as planned.

A high-level meeting was held today at the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to review the latest situation of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.

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Key decisions

• 9th to 12th classes to resume from Jan 18
• Classes upto 8th grade will now start from Feb 1
• Higher education classes to resume from Feb 1
• Another meeting convened next week to review positivity rates in different cities

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Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, after holding a meeting with all the provincial ministers and health officials, said the coronavirus positivity rate is still high in the country that is why the reopening of primary schools have been delayed for a week.

“After a detailed analysis of the situation by health and education ministers we have decided to start classes for 9,10,11,12 as per announced schedule of January 18. Priority is being given to them because of board exams that have been postponed to May, June,” he explained.

Reopening schools: From Jan 18 & Feb 1

The minister said higher education institutes will resume in-person learning from February 1.

“Everyone is concerned about the loss of education during the previous lockdown but we have to strike a balance so as to ensure the safety of students,” Mehmood said, adding the current positivity rate has come down to 6.10%, which was 7.14% when the educational institutes were shut on November 26.

The minister, however, once again clarified that this year students would not be promoted without exams.

Cities with higher positivity rate

Shafqat Mehmood said COVID-19 positivity rate varies in different cities and a review meeting has been convened next week at the NCOC.

Reopening schools: From Jan 18 & Feb 1

“The concerned authorities would again analyse the situation before allowing the education institutes to reopen,” he said.

On January 4, he had said that the government will make no compromise on children’s health and another meeting will be held to review the latest coronavirus situation in the country.

The federal government had earlier announced a phase-wise plan to reopen educational institutes from January 18 which were closed on November 26 to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Reopening schools: From Jan 18 & Feb 1

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has assured the parents that it will ensure strict compliance of COVID-19 SOPs in schools.

Education ministers meet at NCOC to review coronavirus situation

• Shafqat Mehmood says students’ well being will always be a priority
• The first phase of schools’ reopening to start from Jan 18
• The country reported its biggest jump in coronavirus cases in nearly a month on Thursday
• ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting is underway at the National Command and Operations Centre to review the decision to reopen educational institutions amid a second wave of coronavirus pandemic. 
• The Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training said in a tweet that Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood will hold a press briefing after the moot today. 
• Th meeting is being attended by federal and provincial education ministers as well as health ministers. “While I desperately want education to continue, the final decision will be on health grounds. Students’ well being will always be a priority,” he wrote on Thursday.
• Earlier this month, the federal government announced a phase-wise plan to reopen educational institutes from January 18 which were closed on November 26 to contain the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has assured the parents that it will ensure strict compliance of COVID-19 SOPs in schools.
• On January 4, Mehmood had said that the government will make no compromise on children’s health and another meeting will be held to review the latest coronavirus situation in the country.

·         Sudden spike in coronavirus cases

• Shafqat Mehmood’s remarks come as Pakistan battles a second wave of the coronavirus with cases constantly on the rise.
• The country reported its biggest jump in coronavirus cases in nearly a month on Thursday.
• Data issued by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) showed that 3,097 people tested positive for COVID-19 across the country on January 13, raising the national tally to 511,921.
• Read more: Shafqat Mehmood surprised over students’ negative reaction to schools reopening
• The last time Pakistan’s single-day tally crossed the 3,000 mark was on December 18 last year when NCOC reported 3,179 infections.
• Find out more here: Pakistan records biggest jump in coronavirus cases in nearly a month.

‘Schools will shut down if situation worsens’

• Meanwhile, Punjab’s Minister for Education Murad Raas, during a visit to a university in Lahore, said that the schools and other educational institutes in the province would be shut down immediately if the situation necessitates.
• He said that when schools do reopen, they would operate on 50% student attendance.