Schools in Punjab, KP resume 6th to 8th grade classes

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Public and Private sector schools in federal capital, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan resumed classes for sixth to eight grades on Wednesday in the second phase of the government’s reopening of educational institutions. The educational institutions have been directed to ensure strict compliance to the standard operating p(SOPs) to avoid the spread of coronavirus. The students, teachers as well as the school administration are required to ensure social distancing and wear masks and regularly use the hand sanitizers. The Sindh government has delayed resuming classes of sixth to eight grade by a week time to further review the COVID-19 situation. A day earlier, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) 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. 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.