‘Schools not main threat for Covid-19’

Private schools’ federation lauded govt’s decision to resume educational activities

ISLAMABAD:

Political gatherings, tourism, and recreational activities are more responsible for causing the spread of the novel coronavirus disease than educational institutions, a representative body of private schools said objecting to phase-wise opening of schools and delay in examination.

All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) President Kashif Mirza applauded the government's decision to resume educational activities across the country after over a month's gap but at the same time, objected to following the phase-wise regime.

While addressing a press conference held in Islamabad along with other APPSF officials, Mirza maintained that all institutions under APPSF would resume activities from January 11.

He called for the government to reopen educational institutions from January 11 to save students’ academic year from wasting.

The official said that political and non-political gatherings were playing a dominant role in spreading the novel coronavirus. Hence, instead of closing schools, the government should enforce a ban on demonstrations and rallies.

He added that the new session will start from April and no timeframe given by the government would be regarded.

Shutting down schools was not the solution to the problem, Mirza said, and added that the association believes the use of the option of targeted micro-lockdown across the country to stem contagion spread.

He said that the continuous closure of private schools across the country has hurt owners as almost 10,000 schools across the country have been shut down and around 700,000 teachers have become unemployed.

He demanded that most of the schools were established in rented buildings which was due at the month’s beginning.

Mirza further demanded the government announce a relief package for teachers.

He said that according to UNICEF, the closure of schools during the coronavirus pandemic had proven to be counter-productive while as many as 40 million children in Pakistan were affected due to schools’ shut down.

The official cited that different global organisations have advised keeping schools open while reciting results of Gallup’s survey according to which 87% of parents want resumption of schools.

“The schools have altogether faced an irreparable damage of Rs75 million and it is impossible to make up for the educational loss due to lockdown especially when 25 million children in Pakistan are out of schools,” the APPSF president said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2021.