Balochistan mulls delaying schools reopening

Liaquat Shahwani says provincial govt will take up the matter in upcoming NCOC meeting

Balochistan government will propose delaying the resumption of primary schools by 15 days during an upcoming meeting of National Command and Control (NCOC) citing resurgence in coronavirus cases, provincial government’s spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani said on Saturday.

The federal government had announced reopening educational institutions in the country in phases from the September 15 following decline in new Covid-19 cases, ending a long closure that led to exam cancellations and introduction of online classes by a number of institutions.

Following the decision, higher education institutions and senior school classes reopened on September 15 and secondary school classes on September 23; while primary classes are scheduled to reopen on September 30 across the country.

In a statement on Saturday, Shahwani said 427 cases have been reported in the last ten days “which is alarming” and added that committees led by deputy commissioners have been formed in all districts to evaluate the on ground situation of the Covid-19 resurgence.

The spokesperson also urged people to remain cautious in view of expected second wave of coronavirus and strictly adhere to precautionary measures against Covid-19.

His suggestion followed by Education Minister Mehmood statement that the decision to re-open primary schools would be taken after the NCOC meeting on September 29.

Last week, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho had warned against reopening schools from September 28, however, provincial education minister Saeed Ghani stuck to his decision of commencing on-campus classes for all grades from the said date.

On Friday, Ghani had asserted his decision while visiting different schools to review the arrangements for implementing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and later in a video statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2020.