Govt allows universities and colleges to reopen from Sept 15

ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood allowed in principle to reopen universities and colleges from September 15.

The decision was taken in a meeting of inter-provincial education ministers’ conference (IPEMC). All the provincial education ministers are in attendance in the meeting. The health officials briefed the meeting about the current coronavirus situation in the country.

Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said all the institutions would be opened from September 15 to September 30. He said the Mask would be compulsory for every students.

Meanwhile, Punjab education minister also announced to reopening of universities and colleges from September 15.

During the meeting it was decided that in first phase universities, colleges will be allowed to reopen from September 15 under strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and in second phase students of sixth to eight standard will be allowed to return to schools from September 23.

The meeting will thrash out recommendations regarding reopening of educational institutes, which will be forwarded to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for approval.

Among the agenda points that are being taken up in today’s meet are finalising standard operation procedures (SOPs) for educational institutions, short curriculum for the current academic year, and 2021 examination. The issue of a uniform curriculum will also be discussed.

On Sept 4, Shafqat Mahmood had said that the government plans to reopen educational institutes in a phase-wise manner, setting the priority of reopening them from higher secondary classes to middle and primary gradually.

Addressing a presser, he said that the final decision on reopening educational institutes would be made on September 07. “Students have suffered a lot due to the closure and we have received suggestions regarding reopening,” he said as the country is witnessing a declining trend of coronavirus.

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