Coronavirus: Govt postpones all examinations till June 1

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The government has postponed all examinations including those of boards and the Cambridge system till the June 1 due to the coronavirus outbreak. This was announced by Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood at a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. The minister said the foreign institutions as well as domestic boards are bound to implement the government’s decisions. He said if the situation improves, the examination boards may conduct the postponed exams between June 1 and July 15. The education minister said due to delay in exams, the universities have also been directed to delay their admissions. He also said that all the schools including public and private as well as seminaries have been closed till 5th of next month as per the decision of the National Security Committee. Shafqat Mahmood said it will be decided on the 27th of this month whether or not the educational institutions are reopened. He said arrangements are also being made to engage the students in their homes through online lectures in case if the schools are further closed. Shafqat Mahmood said that in this regard technology support and content committees have also been set up. He said all cultural events have also been postponed due to the current situation. He further elaborated that the federal government is working in cohesion with the provinces to take all possible measures to contain the spread of coronavirus. He said the decision to evacuate students from university hostels has been implemented. However, he explained that international students are exempted from this decision.