IPEMC to take decision on closure of schools today

Mahmood will reiterate Centre’s recommendation of online education

KARACHI:

The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) will be held today (Monday) virtually to take the decision regarding closure of schools in the country in the wake of the second Covid-19 wave.

The meeting, which will be headed by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and attended by all provincial education ministers, will discuss the spike in coronavirus cases in the country as well as the timeframe of winter vacation for schools and colleges.

In a tweet on Sunday, Mahmood said, “To all those eagerly awaiting the outcome of tomorrow’s Inter-Provincial Education Ministers meeting, I will be holding a press conference at 12:30[pm] after the conclusion of the meeting in which all decisions would be announced.”

Last week, the IPEMC was held to review the Covid-19 situation in the country but could not reach a consensus on closure of schools and deferred the matter till the next meeting.

The federal government is recommending online education – teachers will come to schools and stay in touch with students, who will be at their homes.

The education minister has also said that students of only those educational institutions where online education facilities are not available would have to come to schools and take their homework.

In the previous meeting, the health secretary, who was also in attendance, presented suggestions.

The Ministry of Health had proposed early winter vacations in schools till December 31.

The provincial education ministers also presented situation reports of educational institutions in their respective provinces.