NCOC greenlights second phase of reopening schools across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has granted permission to enter into the second phase of reopening schools for secondary students across the country, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

The NCOC in its declaration stated that the academic sessions of secondary students from Class VI to Class VIII will be resumed across the country from September 23 (tomorrow).

It added that the schools will be reopened in the second phase as per scheduled announced by the NCOC for resuming academic activities in the educational institutions.

Read: ‘Hasty’ decision to shut schools will destroy education: Shafqat Mahmood

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas announced all public and private schools will be allowed to resume classes 6 through 8 from September 23. He said that it is imperative for everyone to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Punjab’s school education department.

He urged for playing their part for making the second phase of reopening schools successful.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
All Public & Private Schools will be allowed classes 6 through 8 starting September 23rd. It is imperative for everyone to follow SOPs issued by School Education Department Punjab. All of us have to play our part to make this successful InshAllah. pic.twitter.com/0nId7NWNTr

— Murad Raas (@DrMuradPTI) September 22, 2020

Moreover, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Education Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai also announced to reopen all government and private schools across the province from tomorrow. He said that the authorities are satisfied with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the education centres.

Shahram Khan Tarakai said that SOPs for schools in rural areas are different from the urban parts. He announced that more than 3200 middle schools will resume academic activities following the latest decision.

Attended NCOC meeting today and we have decided to open schools for class 6 to 8 from tomorrow Insha Allah in second phase across KP.

— Shahram Khan Tarakai (@ShahramKTarakai) September 22, 2020

Earlier on September 18, the Sindh government had decided to postpone the second phase to reopen schools for the resumption of academic sessions of Class 6 to 8 (Secondary Section) from September 21.

Read: NCOC issues guidelines for sending children to schools

Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani announced that the academic sessions of Class 6 to 8 will not be resumed in schools across the province as negligence was seen in many educational institutions in the implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) against coronavirus pandemic.

He, however, said that the decision to postpone schools’ reopening for the secondary student was made for only one week. Ghani added that the provincial authorities will permit schools to resume secondary-level classes from September 28 if the situation remains better.

Read: Balochistan detects 67 Covid-19 cases in testing at schools

It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh education department had prepared a draft of short curriculums for the students of schools and colleges for the current academic year as the provinces were heading to reopen educational institutions in phases from September 15 after a decline in COVID-19 cases.

The Sindh secretary education prepared short curriculums for schools and colleges separately which will be introduced before reopening the educational institutions.