Edu dept moved to take action over SOPs violation

Over 200, of 1,100 schools visited by officials, found violating SOPs, say sources

Sindh Directorate of Private Institutions sent on Monday the details of educational institutes found violating pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) to the provincial education department and recommended action against them.

According to sources in the education department, officials from the directorate of private institutions visited close to 1,000 schools in Karachi, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas, and over that over 200 were violating SOPs.

According to Sindh Directorate of Private Institutions director-general Mansoob Siddqui, action against 11 private school over SOPs’ violation has been taken thus far.

Meanwhile, All Private Schools Management Association representatives addressed a press conference, demanding of the Sindh government to review its decision of again ordering schools’ closure in case the pandemic escalated.

Speaking on the occasion, APSMA chairperson Syed Tariq Shah said that the policies of government of Sindh and federal government were different and that was the reason students and parents had been anxious.

Shah claimed that only the private schools had been implementing SOPs.

Referring to the reports of surge in Covid-19 cases, he said, “How was it that coronavirus cases increased within a day?” He added, “Why didn’t the cases increased after the reopening of malls, parks and picnic spots?”

“Everyone, except schools is being preference in the country,” he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2020.