Schools to remain closed in Punjab, KP districts till April 11

ISLAMABAD: Amid a spike in Covid-19 infections, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced on Wednesday that educational institutions will remain closed in virus hotspots of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Kashmir till April 11.

Briefing the media after chairing a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to take stock of the coronavirus situation, he said the provincial governments will decide whether to keep schools closed or open in light of the number of infections.

“Board exams for class nine and above will be held as per schedule in May and June,” Mahmood cleared.

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He said the number of cases in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir has gone up. However, he added ,the coronavirus situation in Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan is relatively under control.

Shafqat Mahmood said closure of educational institutions will affect the education of students but health is the government’s foremost priority.

He recalled that schools were earlier closed from 15th to 28th March in some districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as the federal capital in the light of a spike in Covid-19 cases. The next meeting of the education and health ministers will be held on the 7th of next month to review the entire situation and then take decisions accordingly, he disclosed.