Schools lack funds needed for SOPs

Due to shortage of funds, government schools in the province are facing problems in implementing the precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs) announced by the Punjab government for resuming educational activities after the Covid-19 lockdown.

Punjab government has not issued any installment of non-salary budget to the schools in the province. Last year also, it did not issued two installments of non-salary budget to the schools.

Government schools are facing various constraints because of financial crisis and their administrators are terming it impossible to make arrangements for implementing the SOPs without required resources.

In some districts, preparations regarding the SOPs have not been started due to non-availability of funds.

The administration and teaching staff have been called by the government to start preparations for opening the schools in Punjab. The high schools are set to reopen on September 15 after remaining shut during the lockdown. Punjab government has already issued SOPs for the schools and instructed their administrators to implement them.

Under the instructions, all classrooms will be sanitised before the opening of schools. All the schools in Punjab are bound to start a cleanliness and disinfection drive three days before they reopen.

Covid-19 SOPs for schools issued in Pakistan

The schools and classrooms will be disinfected daily and availability of sanitisers and soap should be ensured, according to the SOPs.

All outdoor activities, competitions, sports, and assembly will no be held and face masks will be compulsory for teachers and students.

"During last six months everything's price has increased and we were bound to purchase these things from our own resources. The situations is that there were no funds, while no allocation to cope with coronavirus was made to the schools," said the headmistress of a school.

"Thousands of schools in Punjab are facing difficulties due to the non-availability of funds and the heads of some schools are unable to pay the utility bills and meet other expenses. It is not possible for us to spend from our own pockets to fullfil the SOPs. We even lack funds to pay salaries of class flour employees, including peons and watchmen. The government should immediately issue all installments of non-salary budget if it is sincere regarding the health of children and teachers, said Rana Liaqat Ahmed, Secretary General Punjab Teaches Union ( PTU) .

Published in The Express Tribune, Septe0mber 13^th, 2020.