Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to once again shut all educational institutions as the country is battling the deadly second wave of coronavirus. The shutdown comes only two months after students headed back to schools in mid-September following six-month long closure due to the virus.
Schools closed, home learning to continue
Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood in a press conference on Monday said that all schools, colleges, universities as well as all learning centres including tuition centres would close from November 26. “When we say all educational institutions will close on November 26 and students will home learn, we mean all institutions without exception” education minister stressed. Only home learning is allowed to continue from November 26 to December 24 after which educational institutes would remain closed from December 25 till January 10, 2021, for winter vacations. He expressed hoped that the educational institutes would reopen on January 11 but the final decision would be announced after assessing the coronavirus situation in the country.
Dec 25 to Jan 10, 2021 — Winter holidays
Jan 11 — Schools to reopen pending final decision
Provinces to decide details
The federal education ministry’s only focus is to keep the momentum of education going with the help of online and available tools. The provincial governments have been asked to decide the course of action on specific decisions such as whether the staff and teaching faculty can work from home or have to attend school.
Rise in COVID-19 positivity ratio
The recent closure has been prompted by a surge in coronavirus cases as the virus positivity ratio increased to 7 per cent during the last 24 hours, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, who joined education minister at the press conference.
Exams, hostels and training centres
All examinations scheduled for December have also been postponed. “Exams will commence from January 15”, the minister stated adding that some “professional or assessment exams” would, however, continue as per schedule. The ministry has also recommended that the new academic year — which begins in April at government schools — be postponed till August and the board exams scheduled for March and April be delayed till May and June, the education minister said. It was also announced that only one-third students would be allowed in hostels. Meanwhile, PhD students and those who require the use of laboratories can enter premises of educational institutes. The minister added that vocational learning and specialised training institutes that do not organize daily classes would remain open.
Radio schools and Tele-school
The six-month long closure of schools in Pakistan due to coronavirus prompted many to shift to online classes but the pandemic also revealed the great digital divide for those children lacking Internet access. To reach the disadvantaged children in remote regions, and engage students through various remote learning methods, Pakistan government launched two initiatives dedicated to distance learning - Radio Schools and Tele-School.
