Virus forces closure of K-P academic institutions
Students queue up at safe distances as they enter school on the first day of classes after educational institutes were allowed to reopen. Since then, however, several institutes have seen Covid-19 cases emerge. PHOTO: ONLINE
Following a notification from the federal government, the provincial government on Wednesday notified the closure of all educational institutes to contain the spread of the second wave of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).
In the notification issued by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Elementary and Secondary Education Department (ESED) on Wednesday, all educational institutions will remain closed for physical classes from November 26 to January 10 next year.
Following the new instructions, all internal school exams planned for December have been postponed until January next year.
It stated that from November 26 to December 23, teachers can continue to work from schools and provide online lessons or weekly assignments. From December 24, winter vacations will commence and will end on January 10.
Addressing a news conference, K-P Education Minister Shahram Tarakai on Wednesday said that the province will rely on online classes, distance and home learning.
However, he said that children will be allowed to visit their schools only once a week to submit their work and take on new homework.
“We are planning that kids from every class will come to school once a week and the homework is given to them will be discussed by teachers,” Tarakai explained.
The K-PESED in its notification had noted that “public sector schools, private schools, academies, madaris and other educational institutions which do not have the facility of providing online classes are authorised to call in students on grade basis in such a way that one grade students are called for attendance for only one day in a week and that too as per staggered schedule.”
The notice added that students will be given homework and assignments apart from distributing learning material and providing teaching assistance, feedback, guidance to the students to facilitate and augment their home-based learning.
“These activities, as far as possible and subject to weather conditions, should preferably be conducted in the open or in the verandas of the educational institutions' buildings or in well-ventilated rooms.”
The education minister explained that these measures are being taken to ensure “there is no rush in schools,” adding that all virus standard operating procedures (SOPs) are followed.
The minister further stated that the provincial government has also allowed educational institutions to let students stay in their hostels. However, they were limited to just 30% capacity for children who come from remote areas and do not have access to the internet.
Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood had announced on Monday that all educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities, would be closed for in-person classes from Nov 26 as decided in a meeting of education ministers and health authorities.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2020.