KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani has expressed concerns over the growing trend of COVID-19 cases in the province, saying the situation on school closure was unclear at the moment.
The minister said that education not only in Pakistan but also in the world had been affected due to COVID-19 that caused educational institutions to be closed for more than seven months.
Expressing concern over the growing trend of COVID-19 cases in the province, the Sindh education minister said the situation on school closure was unclear at the moment. However, schools could be closed if the situation worsens due to the virus.
He stressed that the schools were reopened to mitigate education loss during the pandemic. “Keeping in view the surge in COVID-19 cases, we don’t know yet if and when schools will be closed again.”
Earlier the day, the Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has issued an extended winter vacation schedule to all provinces.
The Minister suggested closing educational institutes in the country from November 24 to January 31 for winter vacations. Shafqat Mahmood in his suggestion stated that the primary schools should be closed from November 24, followed by the closure of middle schools from December 02.
The secondary schools should be shut from December 15 amid rising COVID-19 cases, he added. Besides, he conveyed that teachers should be called during the period so they can be trained for online education.
The federal minister also tabled a suggestion of extending the educational session to May 31, while matric and intermediate exams in June 2021.
The inter-provincial conference of education ministers would also be held on November 23, where provinces would put forward their suggestions on the ongoing situation.
