K-P to reopen medical colleges, universities from Monday

Health dept announcement comes as the province witnesses a decline in coronavirus cases

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department on Friday announced reopening of all private and government medical colleges and universities from June 7 (Monday) as the number of coronavirus cases declined in the province.

"In continuation of this department's notification of Even No. dated 27-05-2021, the competent authority has been pleased to direct that all public & private Medical Universities/Medical Colleges, Paramedical/Allied Health Sciences Schools/Colleges shall be opened with effect from 7th June, 2021," read a notification issued by the provincial health department.

Earlier, classes for only final year and semester students had restarted but after the improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the province, the department has allowed reopening of all classes.

Read more: Colleges to reopen from May 31 across Punjab except two districts

Meanwhile, the province has also decided to reopen all universities in the province.

In continuation of this department's notification of even number dated 21-05-2021 and 30-05-2021, the Competent Authority is pleased to reopen all public/private sector universities/DAIs w.e.f 07-06-2021 with staggered approach, under strict compliance of already notified SOPs.

It further said that the curriculum would resume in the universities from Monday with strict adherence to Covid-19 standard operation procedures (SOPs).

Earlier, the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) allowed the provinces to resume grade 10 and 12 classes. Simultaneously, it made Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for educational staff in order to ensure the safe continuation of the education sector.

Also read: K-P to increase number of vaccination centres to 1,000

As part of preparations for examination process, the Elementary and Secondary Education (E&SE) department of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa directed employees of all academic departments to receive anti-Covid-19 jabs from May 29 to June 5.

It said that all teachers and other employees in the academic organisations, aged 18 and above, could walk in with computerised national identity cards and job certificates for the vaccine. “No teacher and staff would be allowed to enter schools without vaccination certificate after June 5.”

Similarly, Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas had said that the government would try to vaccinate all teachers of Punjab before June 7. He pointed out that Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has set up a vaccination centre for the teachers.

On May 29, the Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) issued a notification for reopening of all private and government colleges across the province from May 31 with strict implementation of Covid-19 SOPs.