Punjab minister hints at reopening of schools

Minister says government has prepared SOPs in connection with reopening of schools

LAHORE:

Punjab Minister for School Education Dr Murad Raas has said the final decision regarding the opening of schools in the province would be taken in the first week of September as a meeting in this connection would be held soon.

The education minister expressed these views while speaking at a press conference held at Quaid Head Quarter Wahdat Road on Monday.

He said the chief executive officers of all districts would be trained before the opening of schools and the government was not in a position to take a quick decision in this regard.

“The health of teachers and students is the priority of the Punjab government. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be finalised before the opening of schools,” the minister remarked.

“The government will seal all the institutions that do not follow the government’s SOPs.” He said the government would not take pressure from any quarter. “We cannot put the lives of students and teachers at risk owing to the pressure of anyone.”

He said the government has prepared SOPs in connection with reopening of schools. “We will be starting the training of teachers very soon and in the first phase we will train CEOs of schools.”

The minister said the government has allowed every sector to resume function but the end of lockdown does not mean that coronavirus has vanished completely.

“We are working to finalise a strategy that will be acceptable for all the stakeholders of schools while we are also following the guidelines of the international institutions regarding the reopening of schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2020.