Pakistan schools to reopen from September 15

Islamabad: Schools across Pakistan will reopen from September 15, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said on Monday.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the federal and provincial education departments and has been approved by the National Command and Operation Centre.

The governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh submitted their suggestions during the meeting.

Addressing a press conference later, the federal education minister said that the educational institutions will be opened in different phases.

Universities, colleges and class IX and X will resume from September 15. The students from class VI to VIII will be called to schools from September 23 and the students enrolled below class VI will be called in from September 30.

Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani has said that schools in the province will reopen in phases between September 15 and 30 starting from universities and classes nine and 10.

From September 22, classes six to eight will resume sessions and last, primary classes will begin from September 30. Ghani said that if the number of coronavirus cases in any area spikes, the educational institutions in that area will be closed down.

Wearing masks, practicing social distancing and using sanitiser has been made compulsory for all students, teachers and staff members. Students with a flu or cough will not be allowed on campus.

Failure to comply with the SOPs will result in fines for the schools.