ISLAMABAD: All educational institutes will remain closed Pakistan from November 26 till January 10 thanks to the rising number of coronavirus cases, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Monday.
The federal education minister was addressing a news conference at the National Operations and Command Center (NCOC) along side SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan to offer an appointment about the choices taken within the education minister’s meeting
“We analysed the coronavirus situation altogether provinces and concluded that keeping stern action has got to be taken to stem the spread of the virus,” Dr Sultan said.
The SAPM added that things is deteriorating within the country day-by-day and therefore the positivity ratio has reached 7.4%.
What are the decisions?
Nov 26 — All students to start out studying from home
Dec 24 — Judgment Day of online classes
Dec 25 to Jan 10, 2021 — Winter holidays
Jan 11 — Schools to resume activities after reevaluation of things within the first week of January
Professional exams including MDCAT 2020 to be held as per schedule
Board exams to be pushed to June
"All ministers have mutually decided to stay all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and tuition centres closed. However, online classes will continue from November 26 to December 24 after which winter break will start. Schools will reopen on January 11, 2021," Mahmood said.
The minister said that a review session within the first week of January would be held before reopening of faculties .
All the examinations scheduled during the amount have also been postponed which can commence from January 15, Mahmood added.
Dr Sultan said that professional exams including MDCAT 2020 are going to be held as per adherence to COVID-19 SOPs.
“If there are the other exams scheduled for recruitment they're going to continue as per schedule,” he added.
“In hostels, only one-third of scholars would be allowed and other training and courses, which aren't during a classroom setting, will continue as is.”
Mahmood said that they're also requesting that the board exams which are scheduled in March and April should be pushed to June and should in order that students can cover their syllabus.
They are also considering starting the tutorial year from August rather than April.
Punjab board exams to be held in May
Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said that schoolchildren in Punjab are going to be promoted to subsequent classes supported their homework.
He also added that Punjab Board exams, which are held in March, will now be conducted in May and June 2021.
The minister also said that while schools will remain closed, teachers will need to attend schools twice every week , i.e. on Mondays and Thursdays to make sure that the standard of homework is up to the mark.
Regarding the closure of faculties , Murad Raas said that he's not in favour of closing schools, but the choice has been taken unanimously by all the provincial education ministers.
"If schools are being closed to guard children, then parks, shopping malls, and other recreational places should even be closed also ," he said.
No promotion without exams in Sindh
However, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that no student are going to be promoted to subsequent class without examinations this year, adding that a choice regarding the dates of sophistication 9th, matric, and intermediate exams is yet to be taken.
During the meeting, the minister had suggested that rather than closing all schools within the province, only primary schools — which have 75% enrolment — should be closed, while children from class 6th and above should still attend school.
However, Federal Education Minister said that schools across the country should remain closed for the required duration without exception.
Positivity ratio increases by 82%
Earlier, a crucial meeting was held at the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) to review the newest COVID-19 situation and choose about the closure of faculties and early winter vacations in light of the rising infections among students and teachers.
Federal Planning Minister Asad Umar chaired the session at the NCOC. it had been attended by Dr Sultan and Mahmood.
The participants were briefed by the national health services ministry and NCOC about the pandemic-related situation within the country.
The NCOC was apprised that the positivity ratio in educational institutions has increased from 1.8% to 3.3% during the last one week which is really an 82% increase.
The forum deliberated long over decisions about educational institutions.
After the NCOC meeting, the education ministers met and discussed the recommendations.
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