Pakistan announces tentative date for reopening of schools

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has announced the reopening of schools, colleges and universities across the country from Sept. 15.

All educational institutions in the country were closed nearly three months closed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Making an announcement during a press conference on Thursday, Pakistan’s Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said that the decision will be reviewed in August considering the coronavirus situation in the country. If the crisis persists, educational institutions in the country will remain shut.

The minister added that precautionary and preventive measures will be put in place before the opening of educational institutions and the government is mulling over several options, including scheduling classes for different standards on alternate days.

Educational institutions can ask their staff to resume duties before Sept. 15 as they need to clean up premises as well as train staff about the standard operating procedures put in place by the authorities, the minister further added.

He warned that any academic institution is found to violating the guidelines and regulations, it will be shut down by the authorities.

The education minister's press conference follows a virtual conference of education ministers of all provinces held on Wednesday. The provincial ministers agreed to open educational institutions in September if the Ministry of National Health Services gives them a go-ahead. — Agencies