The federal education ministry has 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.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Saturday extension in closure of all educational institutions till May 23.
In a tweet, the NCOC announced: “In Today’s NCOC session, it is decided that in view of ongoing disease trends, education institutes earlier closed till 17th May will continue to remain closed till 23rd May 21. The review will be carried out on 18th May 21.” Earlier, the NCOC had decided to keep the educational institutions closed till May 17.
It may be noted here that due to the spike in coronavirus cases, Pakistan has also postponed Cambridge and board examinations in order to protect the students. Cambridge examinations, however, weren’t cancelled at first despite court pleas but during the first day of exams, the flouting of SOPs and panic made the government change its decision to hold the examination.
Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas confirmed that schools were remain closed till May 23 due to prevailing Covid-19 conditions.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also extended the closure of schools till May 23.
