Schools may be closed again, warns Sindh minister

14,000 tests conducted at educational institutions, 91 persons found infected so far

KARACHI:

The government may have to order the closure of educational institutions again if a rise is observed in Covid-19 cases and pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) are not followed, warned Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani on Saturday.

Ghani further stated that 14,000 persons were tested for Covid-19 at educational institutions and 5,000 results had arrived so far, with 91 people found infected.

He said this during a press conference after visiting public and private schools and colleges in Hyderabad, where he observed disregard for the SOPs at a government college in Qasimabad and students' low attendance.

The decision to reopen secondary schools had been put off for a week to ensure compliance with SOPs in high schools, colleges and universities, he said, speaking to media persons in Shahbaz Hall. The new date for resumption of the on-campus classes for grade-six to grade-eight students is September 28, he added.

On Friday, he had announced the decision to push the resumption of physical classes for grades six to eight by a week.

"Despite our efforts, we are seeing a lot of flaws and violations. Unfortunately, educational institutions, both private and public, are not fully implementing SOPs," he had said. "The situation will be reevaluated before resuming classes on September 28."

However, taking exception to this announcement, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood warned that further delaying the reopening of schools and colleges would destroy education.

He tweeted, "90 per cent of our government and low-fee paying private schools do not have online teaching facilities. When these institutions close down, most students get no education at all. Learning loss is immense and can take years to recover. While health is a priority, this factor must b[e] kept in mind."

In another tweet, the federal minister stated, "[The] health of students is our first priority and any decision we make will be guided by the advice of [the Ministry of] Health. Having said that, [a] six-month closure deeply affected students. Decision to open was taken with great care [and] any hasty decision to close [them again] will destroy education."

Addressing this, Ghani contended on Saturday that the provincial government had the authority to decide a suitable time for the resumption of academic activities. "Each province is entitled to make the decision in view of the situation," he remarked.

Acknowledging that the private education sector had suffered financial losses, he added, however, that the safety of human health and saving lives would always be given precedence over any other consideration.

On sealing institutions

The minister also pointed out that despite a drop in Covid-19 cases, the virus still existed and a resurgence could necessitate the closure of educational institutions as well as other sectors of the economy again.

He said that four schools had already been sealed in Karachi after they called the students of class eight and lower grades for on-campus sessions before the dates set by the government.

Ghani said that as per the decision of the National Coordination Committee, educational institutions were supposed to reopen in three phases. Initially, only high schools, colleges and the tertiary education institutions were allowed to resume on-campus classes and secondary and primary students were to be called for in-class session in the second and the third phase, respectively, he explained.

Two colleges were sealed in Matiari on Thursday after eight staff members tested positive for Covid-19, while four schools were sealed in Karachi for violating pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Besides, eight staff members of Government Boys Degree College, Sehwan, have also been found infected and have quarantined themselves for 15 days. The infected staff members were tested on September 12.

"[But] the overall situation in reopened schools is satisfactory. We want all staff and students to wear masks and maintain social distance while school and college canteens will remain closed," Ghani said.