Educational institutions to reopen from September 15, confirms Shafqat Mahmood

Federal education minister says the government will formulate SOPs that must be followed

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday said the government has made the decision to reopen educational institutions from September 15 with strict adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs).

During a press conference in Islamabad, the minister said the federal government will formulate SOPs and share them with the provincial governments, adding that the provinces have the authority to close instituions that fail to observe government protocol.

Shafqat Mahmood said the government will review the situation and implementation of SOPs in the first week of September, adding that educational institutions can open their administrative offices and call teachers before officially reopening schools.

Universities can permit their PhD students to conduct research at laboratories with limited numbers, he added, noting that universities can allow students to reside in hostels with only 30 per cent occupancy from August.

The minister underscored that institutions can conduct examinations spanning maximum four days, following strict SOPs from the second week of July.