ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has decided to close all Educational Institutions across the Country from November 26, 2020 till January 10, 2021 in the wake of the second wave of Coronavirus.
However, the decision will finally be announced by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on COVID-19 to be held on Tuesday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Chair.
While addressing a Press Conference along with the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan following an Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Meeting held in Islamabad on Monday, the Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood announced that from November 26 till December 24, Children will be imported the online education at home.
Shafqat Mahmood said that there would be winter vacations from December 25, 2020 till January 10, 2021.
The Federal Education Minister said that all Educational Institutions throughout the Country will reopen on January 11.
بین الصوبائی وزرائے تعلیم اجلاس میں اہم فیصلے :
26 نومبر سے 24 دسمبر تک تمام تعلیمی ادارے بند رہیں گے۔ 25 دسمبر سے 10 جنوری تک موسم سرما کی تعطیلات ہو ں گی ۔ وفاقی وزیر تعلیم @Shafqat_Mahmood اور ڈاکٹر فیصل سلطان کی پریس کانفرنس۔۔ #ClosureOfSchools#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/y6UdAIMWxi— Ministry of Federal Education/ProfessionalTraining (@EduMinistryPK) November 23, 2020
Likewise, all examinations slated to be held in December 2020 have been postponed and they will now be held in May and June next year; however, recruitment examinations and entry tests will take place in December as per schedule.
The minister said that the Vocational Institutions won’t be shut, and they will continue to impart skillful knowledge to students.
Shafqat Mahmood said that the decision to call teachers in schools will be taken by the schools administration.
When we say all educational institutions will close on Nov 26 and students will home learn, we mean ALL institutions without exception
— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) November 23, 2020
Earlier, a virtual meeting of Education Ministers of all provinces was held with the Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mahmood in the Chair.
The Provincial Education Ministers, the Punjab Minister of Higher Education Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz, and Officials from the Education Department, the NCOC, the Healthy Ministry, and other relevant Departments attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the spike in Coronavirus Cases in the Country and the time frame of winter vacation for Schools and Colleges.
The meeting also took stock of the suggestions put forth with regard to the early and extended winter vacations.
It was apprised in the meeting that the ratio of Coronavirus Positive Cases in Educational Institutions during the week remained 82%.
It was further told that the positivity ratio in Educational Institutions has increased from 1.8 percent to 3.3 percent.
