NCOC allows second phase of reopening schools across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday allowed the second phase of reopening schools for secondary students from September 23 after reviewing the current situation of the coronavirus across the country. In its declaration, the NCOC stated that the academic sessions of secondary students from Class VI to Class VIII will be resumed across the country from September 23 (tomorrow). It added that the schools will be reopened in the second phase as per scheduled announced by the NCOC for resuming academic activities in the educational institutions. According to a statement issued by the NCOC, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood, Interior Minister Brig (r) Ijaz Ahmad Shah, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, as well as the provincial education ministers and secretary education attended the today's meeting. Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas announced all public and private schools will be allowed to resume classes 6 through 8 from September 23. He said that it is imperative for everyone to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Punjab’s school education department. He urged for playing their part for making the second phase of reopening schools successful.

ANNOUNCEMENT: All Public & Private Schools will be allowed classes 6 through 8 starting September 23rd. It is imperative for everyone to follow SOPs issued by School Education Department Punjab. All of us have to play our part to make this successful InshAllah. pic.twitter.com/0nId7NWNTr

— Murad Raas (@DrMuradPTI) September 22, 2020

Earlier today, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai said that the provincial government has decided to reopen schools from tomorrow. "We have decided to open schools for class 6 to 8 from tomorrow Insha Allah in second phase across KP," Tarakai said on Twitter after attending the NCOC meeting. Late last week, Sindh had announced to postpone the reopening of secondary schools across the province by a week amid a fear of the coronavirus and educational institutes failing to enforce safety protocols. In a meeting of the provincial education ministers earlier this month, it was decided that a phase-wise reopening of schools starting September 15 would be carried out. The ministers had agreed that the schools would open in phases starting with Grade 9 and up, as well as all universities, on September 15, which then were reopened as scheduled. Classes 6th to 8th were to resume on September 21. Pre-primary and primary classes have been scheduled to resume on September 30.