Pakistani parents more at ease sending kids to school now than in June: poll

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani parents seem to be more at ease in sending their children to school now, in August, than they were back in June before an apparent peak in the coronavirus cases was recorded, a research released Sunday by the Ipsos Group shows.

A considerable change — 37% opposed to schools reopening in August as compared to 80% in June — in parents’ comfort while sending children to schools was seen during the research group's latest nationwide survey on COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan.

Interestingly, the latest development comes as Pakistan is set to make a final decision today over whether to reopen schools.

At the same time, the alliances of Pakistan's private schools and madrassas had warned a day earlier of "a long march and sit-ins" if all educational institutes were not allowed to reopen by September 15.

Read more: Pakistan to make final decision about reopening of schools today

The media director and spokesperson of the Wifaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia, Moulana Abdul Quddus Muhammadi, had said the education sector, like others, should be given a chance to reopen.

Moreover, according to the research, carried out August 18-23, public awareness about the coronavirus was stagnant since going to the highest point back in April but now seems to be settling in at 86%.

However, while almost 75% of Pakistanis consider local news channels as the most trustworthy source of information for COVID-19 updates, followed by religious places, Twitter ended up having a minimal role over the past many months.

The Paris-based research group's study notes a slight increase in public concern as the economy reopens, though it remains at the ever-lowest level on a country level since the pandemic hit in February 2020.

One in every three Pakistanis fears a second wave of COVID-19 mainly due to a lack of adherence to the standard operating procedures (SOPs), with 46% thinking it may be so as that is the trend being witnessed across the world.

Also read: Private schools, madrassas warn of 'long march' if not allowed to reopen on Sept 15

Almost 40% of the respondents say people have started physical interaction with each other and 38% respondents say it is due to markets opening earlier and closing late now.

Pakistanis, the study finds, are apparently becoming too relaxed about the coronavirus-related SOPs, with nearly 50% feeling comfortable in socialising with relatives and friends and some others eating out and travelling publicly.

Almost 80% of Pakistanis have now completely resumed their business and employment activities.

A worrisome trend, however, is that even after the discovery of a COVID-19 vaccine, most Pakistanis (63%) are not eager to get vaccinated, with Rs300 an acceptable average price they may be willing to pay.