NAPS rejects extension in schools vacations

Extending holidays should be decided by May end with health ministry consultation

ISLAMABAD: The National Association of Private Schools (NAPS) has rebuffed the extension in schools vacations until July 15 amid the coronavirus lockdown and demanded the government to reopen educational institutions under precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“Not only the teaching and non-teaching staff is suffering but the van drivers, stationery shops owners and others are running out of savings,” the NAPS officials said while addressing a press conference on Saturday.

Winter vacations extended for schools in Punjab

The NAPS President Chaudhry Abaid, Chairperson Malik Imran and other office-bearers demanded a bailout package for private institutions and waiver of utility bills.

The private schools association representatives said that Pakistan was also facing problems due to the pandemic virus like the rest of the world. However, they added that thousands of private schools’ owners and staff were in anguish due to their uncertain future. “Over 2 million teaching and non-teaching staff in the private institutions across the country has become financially distressed due to the closure of schools for this long,” Abaid said.



They added that the decision was taken in haste and termed it as “imprudent”. NAPS president said, “The decision regarding the extension of closure of educational institutions would have been taken at the end of May with the consultation of the health ministry”.

Imran stated that not only the school staff was suffering but many other businesses linked with the education industry were also facing extreme difficulties. “The stationery shops, van drivers, canteen owners and others must have probably run out of their savings until now,” the official said.

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