Private schools' association to reopen educational institutes from Aug 15

The All Pakistan Private Schools and Colleges Association (APPSCA) announced on Monday reopening educational institutes from August 15 across the country, rejecting federal government’s earlier decision to reopen them in September.

In a joint press conference, the association observed that students have had to suffer an educational loss as schools and colleges have been closed for the past six to eight months. They asserted that they would open educational institutes from August 15 across the country.

The APPSCA president, Hidayat Khan, added that the virus has slowed down and that cases are also on a decline.

He added that the association had tried to negotiate with the government but they did not listen. “If the government tries to stop us, we will organise a ‘million march’,” Khan warned. He further criticised the federal government, calling it incompetent.

“We will open schools in line with the SOPs,” he said. “Madrassas have been opened, and they have even conducted examinations,” he further stated.

On July 9, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood announced the government's 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 provinces have the authority to close institutions which fail to observe government protocol.

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.