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Educational institutions to be reopened from Sept 15 across country

Educational institutions to be reopened from Sept 15 across country
August 5, 2020
LAHORE (92 News) - All education institutions will be reopened across the country from September 15. According to the sources, this decision was taken during the Education Ministers' Conference chaired by Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood. During the conference, the Khyber Pakhtunkwa government suggested to reopen the schools from September 1. The sources also mentioned that all the provinces opposed this suggestion. Meanwhile, the consultations were held on uniform curriculum across the country and this was also principally approved. On the other hand, Punjab Education Minister and PTI MPA Dr Murad Raas said that the province will reopen schools tentatively from September 15, adding that the final decision on the matter depends on the “COVID-19 situation in Punjab”. In a tweet, the minister said that the Standard Operating Procedures will be followed in schools when they reopen and it will be conveyed to public and private stakeholders. He added that this was the official information so far regarding the reopening of schools across the province, calling all other news “fake”. Earlier, Shafqat Mahmood announced that all education institutions, including universities, will reopen from September 15 if the health situation of the country improved. Addressing a press conference, the minister said that the government will review its decision in the first week of September by monitoring the situation in the country by taking a look at the ‘health indicators’ and take a final decision in this regard. Shafqat Mahmood said that it had been decided to allow schools to call its administration staff before September 15 and announced that trainings will be conducted to ensure that SOPs are implemented. He said that provinces will be responsible for ensuring SOPs that are followed, cautioning schools to follow the procedures laid out by the government. “It is my request to private schools, especially, that the SOPs that you will have to follow will be the ones made by the government,” he said.