Primary school exam results to be released

Govt considering online classes to bridge the gap created due to school closures

PESHAWAR: The provincial education department on Thursday directed all district education departments to announce the results of exams in primary schools and release books for the next academic year even as the department works on a plan to start online classes for students.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Elementary and Secondary Education Department (K-PESED) has directed all district education departments in the province to announce the results of examinations for grades one through eight.

In a letter issued by the K-PESED education director on Thursday, it directed the district education departments to provide students with academic books for the next grades so that the new academic year can begin.

Online classes

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) and the ensuing lockdown, the provincial education department is working on a plan to start online classes to bridge the education gap created due to the closure of schools.

K-P Education Minister Akbar Ayub on Thursday said that they "are in a discussion with private schools regarding relaxation in fees for parents amidst the lockdown and different options are being discussed".

Presiding over a meeting to discuss plans for an alternative system of classes for students in the wake of the pandemic, he declared the period the schools will remain closed in the province as a summer vacation.

He assured that schools will be provided basic facilities such as solar panels so that they can resume work in the summer.

The minister added all exams in the province have been suspended until June 1, adding that a decision in this regard has been taken given the coronavirus situation in the province.

Akbar said that the provincial education ministry has started an e-transfer policy and now teachers will be transferred to their desired areas without any political interference. The e-transfer policy will bring transparency to the department.

In this regard, he disclosed that some 15, 000 teachers had submitted applications through the e-transfer portal for transfers, he said. The minister said at least 22,000 people will be recruited in different cadres of the education department by the end of June. 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2020.