The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided institutions to hold professional exams and tests amid strict arrangements to contain coronavirus measures, said Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood.
In a tweet, the federal minister asked the institutions to apply to the education ministry secretary in Islamabad if they want to conduct exams. The minister asked them to share the details of their exams centres, number of students, and SOPs to be followed.
According to the minister, the government will allow centres to organise the exams if all arrangements are satisfactory.
On Wednesday, the NCOC lifted bans on tourism and outdoor weddings amid a slight drop in cases across Pakistan. In addition to this, schools have been allowed to open in areas where the positivity ratio is less than 5 per cent.
The development came after Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar chaired a meeting and Lt General Hamooduz Zaman Khan co-chaired it. SAPM Health, Sindh health minister, and chief secretaries of all federating units attended the session via video link.
Last week, the education ministry had directed the federating units to keep schools and colleges closed till May 23 in a bid to avoid another surge in coronavirus cases. “Educational institutions shall remain closed till May 23 in view of the directives of the NCOC [National Command and Operation Centre] to deal with the third wave of COVID-19,” read a communique sent to all provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
According to the ministry, these directives apply to all type to educational institutions, including seminaries.
