Sindh, Punjab may consider shutting schools only in coronavirus hotspots

Punjab government spokesperson says students will not be promoted without exams this year

Web Desk

March 24, 2021

A student wears a protective mask maintaining a safe distance along with others before entering a class after the government allowed reopening of schools from grade six to eight amid the coronavirus disease. Photo: Reuters/File

Sindh and Punjab are mulling over options to keep schools open in areas that have relatively lesser numbers of coronavirus cases.
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani has said that the positivity rate in Sindh was less than 3% as of yesterday.
He suggested keeping educational institutions opened which have reported a lesser number of virus cases.

Amid the discussions regarding the closure of educational institutions during the third wave of Covid-19, Sindh and Punjab are mulling over options to keep schools open in areas that have relatively lesser numbers of coronavirus cases.

Appearing on Geo Pakistan, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that the positivity rate in Sindh was less than 3% as of yesterday (March 23), whereas, the rate is even lesser in educational institutions – which is 2.8%.

“NCOC meeting will be held today, in which data will be reviewed to decide next course of action. [However], my suggestion would be to keep educational institutions opened which have reported a lesser number of virus cases,” the provincial minister opined.

He said that the Sindh government has altered the education plan many times keeping the ongoing coronavirus situation in mind.

Meanwhile, Punjab government spokesperson Musarat Jamshed Cheema said that the coronavirus rate in Punjab stands at 9.5% which is an alarming sign for the authorities.

The Punjab government is strictly following the coronavirus directives of the NCOC, she said.

“Wedding halls and offices are closed, whereas, indoor activities have also been restricted. Coronavirus third wave is way more lethal,” the minister noted.

He added that education is the government's priority, but the wellbeing of students can never be ignored.

Schools will open where coronavirus rates are low, Cheema said, adding that children will not be promoted without exams this year.

Exams might be delayed for a while, but exams will be held, the spokesperson maintained.