Educational institutions in Pakistan that are located in coronavirus hotspot areas will remain closed till April 11, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood announced Wednesday.
He was speaking to the media after an important meeting of education and health ministers at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to decide on the closure of schools amid an alarming rise of coronavirus cases in the country.
“Board exams for class nine and above will be held as per schedule in May and June,” Mahmood cleared.
He said the number of cases in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Kashmir has gone up. However, he added the coronavirus situation in Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan is under control.
Shafqat said closure of schools will affect the education of students but health is the government’s foremost priority.
The number of COVID-19 active cases has doubled in the last three weeks while the positivity ratio has remained above 8% in the last few days. According to the NCOC data, the number of active cases was 17,352 on March 6 which reached 36,849 on Wednesday
On Sunday, Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood had said that all education and health ministers will meet on Wednesday, March 24 at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), to take a decision regarding opening or further closure of educational institutions.
The minister said that the third wave of the coronavirus is serious and Health of students, teachers and staff is the primary consideration of the government.
On March 10, the education minister had announced closure of all public and private educational institutions in seven major cities of Punjab from March 15 to March 28.
Follow the PNI Facebook page for the latest news and updates.
