Formal re-opening of educational institutions by Sept 15 after final review of COVID-19 situation: Shafqat.

ISLAMABAD -- Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday said that educational institutions would formally re-open by September 15 as all stakeholders had developed a consensus after thorough deliberations and consultation on the issue. He said the federal government will have initial reviews of health parameters in the first and third week of August prior to the formal re-opening of educational institutions after months-long closure in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing a press conference after taking the final approval from National Command and Control Center (NCOC) on the initiative, he said the final review would be carried out in the first week of September by assessing the overall situation of the pandemic in the country. In case the current pandemic situation did not improve, then the educational institutions would not open from 15th September, he added.

He pointed out that all decisions were taken unanimously at the Inter Provincial Education Ministers Conference(IPEMC) on Wednesday in consultation with the all stakeholders. He said that the educational institutions including Madaariss, public and private sector schools, colleges and universities would open step-wise from September 15 under strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The provinces had given different suggestions regarding formulation of SOPs, he said adding they had been asked to forward their written SOPs that would be finalized by the Federation. Briefing about the decisions taken at IPEMC meeting for opening of educational institutions, Shafqat said that universities, colleges and schools were being given permission to open their administration offices for cleanliness and providing training to their teachers to ensure implementation of SOPs. The Federal Government in this regard had given formal permission and now the decisions would be taken by the educational institutions in consultation with the provincial governments, he added. The Education Minister further stated that universities were being given permission to call PhD...