Grade I-VIII to remain closed till Eid in 13 districts of Punjab: Murad Raas

Punjab Education Minister Dr Murad Raas announced that grade one to eight, in all public and private educational institutions, would remain closed until Eid in 13 districts of the province amid rising coronavirus cases.

The districts included Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Multan, Bhawalpur, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, TT Singh, Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Sheikhupura.

"Decision to be reviewed in 2 weeks," the education minister added.

Murad further announced that all grades nine to 12 will be open only on Mondays and Thursdays from April 19 onwards in the said aforementioned 13 districts.

"All Examinations for Classes 9 through 12 and O/A Levels will be conducted as per schedule in Punjab," he added.

Read more: Schools closure in Covid hotspots extended till 28th

Earlier, the government decided to extend the closure of schools – classes I to VIII – in the districts most affected by the coronavirus till April 28, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced after chairing a meeting attended by the provincial health and education ministers on Tuesday.

The minister told the media that classes IX to XII would resume from April 19, even in the most affected districts with strict adherence to the precautionary standard operating procedures (SOPs), while the board exams would be held from the third week of May.

“These classes [I to VIII] can take place online but there will be no physical presence during the sessions,” he said. “It is the prerogative of the provinces to decide as to which of their districts are most affected and require strict measures.”

The decisions were taken in a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) – the government’s unified effort against the pandemic. Mahmood said that the NCOC would review the situation on April 28.