KARACHI: Education and provincial ministers are expected to discuss the opening of educational institutions in three phases, the Daily Jang reported on Saturday.
Educational institutions have been closed since November, 2020 when the provincial government, on the recommendation of the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), decided that schools would reopen on January 10 after the winter break.
But the growing spread of the novel coronavirus across the country has tarnished that decision with education and provincial ministers saying the opening of January 11 is “impossible”.
It may be noted here that although education is a provincial matter, under Amendment 18, the provinces adopted the Institute’s policy as a result of a Supreme Court decision governing the same policy against the coronavirus epidemic in the country.
The decision to open educational institutions will be reviewed at a meeting of education ministers, chaired by former Minister of Education Federal Shafqat Mahmood, on January 4 to discuss national education policy. The final decision will be made after consulting the Department of Health on the matter.
Jang reported on Saturday that education ministers would deliberately open up educational institutions in phases. In the first phase, lower-level students would return to school on January 25. The second phase would see intermediate schools open on February 4 and higher education institutions would start on February 15 in the third phase.
Jang reported that it is proposed to delay school exams and boards until the last week of May or early June. The summer holidays will be shortened by the new academic year starting in August.
Meanwhile, private school organizations across the country are protesting against the closure of schools.
On Thursday, the private school council demanded that the government reopen the schools on January 11 as planned and also sought a plan to help the economy. “The government should suspend registration fees and taxes throughout the year.”