Sindh CM balks at education secy's capitulation, rejects summary to reopen schools on Aug 3

Government and private schools will now reopen from August 11

KARACHI: The Sindh government, it seems, will be sticking to its guns on when summer vacations will end, with the chief minister rejecting a summary to reopen schools on August 3.

Earlier on Saturday, the education secretary -- under pressure from private schools association -- had moved a summary whereby it wanted to withdraw the notification issued on July 31, which extend summer vacations by a week with schools to reopen from August 11.

“The notification issued on July 31 regarding extension of summer vacations has now been taken back from the education department,” Secretary Education Fazlullah Pechuho  told The Express Tribune.

All those schools which had not been affected by floods or rains were to reopen from August 3.

“The decision was made keeping in view the situation of those districts which were not affected by rain or floods,” Pechucho explained.

But chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah rejected the summary, a CM House spokesperson said.

Read: On the war path: Private schools to defy order on extended vacations

The All Private Schools Management Association (APSMA) Sindh’s chairman Syed Khalid Shah had expressed his heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the secretary education for he accepting their demands of not extending summer vacations.

Read: Summer holidays: Proposal for extension in school vacations

“We are happy that opposition leader Khwaja Izhar helped us and discussed the issue with secretary education,” Shah told The Express Tribune.

“This step has broken the tussle between secretary education and us. We never wanted this to continue and are very happy that he cooperated with us.”