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Schools may need funds to implement SOPs

Educational institutions are likely to reopen next month with safety measures


ADNAN LODHI August 14, 2020
LAHORE:

Around 90 per cent public and private schools in Punjab are reportedly not in a position to implement the provincial government's standard operating procedures (SOPs) to minimise the risk of novel coronavirus infection.

Majority of public schools in Punjab do not even have peons, security guards and basic infrastructure. Around 85% private schools in the province receive Rs500 to Rs2,000 monthly fee from each student.

The administrators and owners of the schools are of the view that the government would have to release funds for ensuring implementation of the SOPs. Besides the teachers and management, parents of students are also concerned about the SOPs.

Punjab government has announced the SOPs for the public and private schools in the province as they are likely to open next month.

According to the SOPs, all indoor games, sports activities, seminars and speech competitions will remain barred, while wearing a mask is mandatory for students and teachers. The administrations will be bound to arrange soap and hand sanitiser at schools, while disinfection spray and proper cleanliness would also be compulsory. Several other instructions are also included in the guidelines.

Teachers unions of public and private schools have also expressed dissatisfaction over the SOPs. According to them, most of the schools lack resources required to implement the SOPs.

"The Punjab government should issue funds to government schools for the implementation of SOPs as they do not have resources for this purpose. It is our request to the Punjab government if it is sincere about the health of teachers and students to immediately release special funds for the eradication of coronavirus to schools so that they can be put to use before their reopening," said Rana Liaquat, Secretary General of Punjab Teachers Union".

"Our 90% schools are getting fee below Rs3,000, including thousands of institutions where the fee is from Rs500 to Rs2,000. How can schools getting only Rs500 fee from a student implement the SOPs. Government should provide relaxation and facilities to the private schools and also provide masks and sanitisers to them," said

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14th, 2020.

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