In Pictures: Pakistan primary schools reopen with strict safety rules

Children wearing facemasks attend a class at a school in Lahore after the educational institutes reopened primary classes in the third and last phase nearly six months after the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The primary schools (Grade 1-5) formally reopened across the country on Wednesday under strict Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) after a six-month hiatus.

Student attend their class at a primary school, in Lahore. Pakistani students head back to primary schools following their reopening, amid a steady decline in coronavirus deaths and infections.

A teacher (R) checks the body temperature of a child wearing a facemask at the entrance of a junior campus school upon arrival in Islamabad.

Since the re-opening up of educational institutions from September 15, a total of 1,71,436 students, teachers and administrative staff had been tested for Covid-19 across the country, out of which only 1284 were tested positive with the ratio of 0.8 per cent.

Student walk to their class room at a primary school, in Lahore.

A teacher (L) sprays disinfectant on the shoes of a child wearing a facemask and gloves at the entrance of a junior campus school upon arrival in Islamabad.

Parents to regularly observe their school-going children and in case of any symptoms, avoid sending them to school while teachers should also observe health of children on daily basis and contact parents in case of any symptoms. Above, a teacher (R) checks the body temperature of children wearing facemasks at a school in Lahore.

Children wearing facemasks attend a class at a school in Lahore. Several educational institutions had been closed down for not complying with the SOPs and safety guidelines, adding this practice would continue in the primary schools as well.

Generally, Pakistan has not done badly during the pandemic. When most of the more resourceful countries are still bending and even breaking their backs trying to tame the virus, the country has gone for a full-throttle reopening of activity in every sphere of national life.

At present Pakistan’s schools are using the so-called hybrid model, alternating regular school hours with distance learning and dividing students into groups that are required to attend classes strictly under Covid-19 standard operating guidelines on their designated days.

Pakistani officials welcomed primary school children back to school following educational institutions reopened in the country amid a steady decline in coronavirus deaths and infections. Above,children wearing facemasks attend a class at a school in Islamabad.

A teacher (L) checks the body temperature of children wearing facemasks at a school in Lahore. Masks will be mandatory for all teachers and students.