Sindh govt announces to close schools for two weeks

KARACHI (92 News) - The Sindh government announced on Sunday suspension of physical classes for grades nursery to eight at all government and private schools across the province for two weeks.

According to Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani, classes will go online from April 6, Tuesday at all private and public schools. The decision was taken in view of the Covid-19 situation.

“The classes can be continued by any other means,” Ghani added.

Notification pic.twitter.com/lrA7cNlY3c

— Senator Saeed Ghani (@SaeedGhani1) April 4, 2021

Schools across the province have been calling in students on alternate days with 50% attendance. Earlier this week, the Sindh coronavirus taskforce suggested the government close schools for 15 days.

Earlier today, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood tweeted that the National Command and Operation Centre will meet on Tuesday to take a decision on closing schools.

The minister said that a decision will be taken considering the virus situation in the country and after consultation with the health ministry.

In the last NCOC meeting on March 24, the education ministry closed educational institutions in virus hotspots of Islamabad, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa till April 11.

Private schools reject government decision

The All Private Schools Management Association Sindh has rejected the government’s decision.

“We will not close schools unless a smart lockdown is imposed,” the association’s chairperson Haider Ali said. “Online classes didn’t bring satisfactory results across the world.”

He added that closing schools will make millions of students suffer and will put the livelihoods of teachers at risk.