Islamabad: Following the spike in COVID-19 cases and positivity rate hovering at 8.6 per cent in the country, the Pakistan government on Wednesday decided to close educational institutions (schools, seminaries, colleges and universities) till April 11 in COVID-19 hotspots, including Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab.
Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood announced the decision after attending a meeting at the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC).
The meeting was also attended by senior officials from the health and education department, and provincial education ministers.
New restrictions
Shortly after the meeting, the Punjab and KP governments announced the areas where schools will remain closed.
They include nine districts of the Punjab - Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, and Sheikhupura.
In KP, the cities where educational activities will remain suspended include Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, Swabi, Kohat, Lower Dir, Malakand, Swat, Nowshera and Buner.
Islamabad identified as ‘worst-hit’ by COVID-19
According to Shafqat Mahmood the provincial governments will also decide if schools need to be closed in other areas. Shafqat said the provincial governments would take necessary steps based on the situation. “If they wish to call teachers and administrative staff, they can do so,” Shafqat said.
The minister said the NCOC would continue to review the novel coronavirus outbreak. “We are very much aware that closing down schools has caused harm to children’s education, but we can’t risk their health,” he said.
On March 15, the NCOC had decided a two-week spring vacation in educational institutions in 10 cities of Punjab, KP, Kashmir and Islamabad till March 28.
30 deaths, 3,301 new cases in one day
Pakistan on Wednesday reported 30 deaths and 3,301 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. With this latest figure, Pakistan’s total infections surged to 637,042 and 13,965. According to the NCOC, Pakistan’s recoveries stood at 586,228 with 957 recoveries in the last 24 hours.
Sindh not to follow NCOC plan
The government of Sindh has refused to follow NCOC plan of schools closure to curb spread of COVID-19.
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani on Wednesday said all public and private schools in the province would remain open as per schedule.
Talking to the media after the NCOC decision was made public, Saeed Ghani said the COVID-19 situation was alarming in Punjab compared to Sindh and Balochistan.
Sindh education minister said in areas where smart lockdown was imposed, schools will have to close.
The minister said even in Punjab, schools other than those of the nine districts would remain open.
