ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s education minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Tuesday physical classes for grade one to eight would not be held until August 28 in districts with high coronavirus positivity rates, while the planning minister said over one million people in the country had received vaccine jabs.
Pakistan is facing a third wave of the coronavirus and recorded 3,953 new infections in the last 24 hours, with 103 deaths.
On March 24, Pakistan announced that it would keep all educational institutes in coronavirus hotspots closed until April 11. On Monday, Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Center, in-charge of the national coronavirus response, said it had called a special session of the body today, Tuesday, to review Ramadan guidelines and the reopening of schools.
“In districts affected by corona classes from 1 till 8th will remain closed till 28th April,” Mahmood said on Twitter. “In these districts classes 9th till 12th will resume in a staggered manner from April 19th.”
Education/Health Ministers of Pakistan unanimously made following decisions at NCOC today: 1) In districts affected by corona classes from 1 till 8th will remain closed till 28th April. 2) In these districts classes 9th till 12th will resume in a staggered manner from April 19th
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 6, 2021
He added that authorities would review the situation again and see if classes should be suspended until Eid Al-Fitr or resumed in a staggered way.
On exams, the education minister said: “In the Education Ministers conference today it was also decided unanimously that all exams will take place. A/ AS and O level date sheets have already been announced. Classes 9 to 12 exam dates will be announced by respective boards but will be after Eid.”
In the Education Ministers conference today it was also decided unanimously that all exams will take place. A/ AS and O level date sheets have already been announced. Classes 9 to 12 exam dates will be announced by respective boards but will be after Eid
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 6, 2021
“Decisions regarding exams are final,” he wrote in another Twitter post. “Students should start preparing and working hard. This decision will not be changed so no one should have any uncertainty in their mind. Everything has been done keeping interest of education in mind. My very best wishes to everyone.”
Decisions regarding exams are final. Students should start preparing and working hard. This decision will not be changed so no one should have any uncertainty in their mind. Everything has been done keeping interest of education in mind. My very best wishes to everyone
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) April 6, 2021
The education minister of Pakistan’s most populous province of Punjab, Murad Raas, said all public and private schools, classes 1-8, would remain closed until Eid in the cities of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Multan, Bhawalpur, Sialkot, Sargoda, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Sheikupura.
“Decision to be reviewed in 2 weeks,” he wrote on Twitter. “All Public & Private Schools classes 9-12 will be open only Monday & Thursday starting April 19th, 2021 in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sialkot, Sargoda, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura and DG Khan,” Raas said, adding: “All Examinations for Classes 9 through 12 and O/A Levels will be conducted as per schedule in Punjab.”
Pakistan’s planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said on Tuesday Pakistan had administered coronavirus vaccines to more than one million people so far since Pakistan started its vaccination drive in February this year.
“Total vaccinations carried out so far crossed 1 million. More than 76 thousand vaccinations were carried out yesterday. Total number of people registered so far is now over 2 million,” Umar said in tweet, urging people over 50 years of age to register for vaccination.
Total vaccinations carried out so far crossed 1 million. More than 76 thousand vaccinations were carried out yesterday. Total number of people registered so far is now over 2 million. 600k health care workers and more than 1.4 million 50 plus. Please register if u are 50 plus.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 6, 2021
In a separate tweet Umar said the coronavirus situation was improving in the country due to the enforcement of lockdowns and health guidelines.
“Increased restrictions, broader lockdowns & stronger sop [standard operating procedures] enforcement starting to have effect,” he said on Twitter. “Initial signs of positivity slowing. However, due to momentum of last 2 weeks patients on critical care & mortality will stay at high levels for some time.”
Increased restrictions, broader lockdowns & stronger sop enforcement starting to have effect. Initial signs of positivity slowing. However, due to momentum of last 2 weeks patients on critical care & mortality will stay at high levels for some time. Please follow sop's & be safe
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 6, 2021