Schools will reopen in phases from 18th January
IPEMC in the meeting with the Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood today – January 4 – decides to reopen schools from January 18, 2021, in phases. Along with the reopening of educational institutes, many key decisions regarding education plans were made for 2021.
Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) held a meeting today with Shafqat Mahmood to decide the future of educational institutes and students who are currently suffering a loss of education because of the special situation – pandemic. Shafqat Mahmood said that the educational institutes will reopen in phases from 18th January.
- First phase: Classes 9th to 12th will resume classes from January 18
- Second phase: Primary to 8th classes will start the classes from January 25
- Third phase: Higher education will resume the on-campus classes from February 1.
Until the reopening of schools and after the winter vacations (from 11 January), the schools are advised to continue online classes. Moreover, due to the lagging of education in lockdown and online classes, board exams have been postponed and will be held in May and June this year. However, another meeting will be held on January 11 to review the decision under current situations.
At the start of the year 2020 in March, the world shifted to the online mode of education which resumed for three months in September but due to the pervasive second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country, all educational institutes were closed down once again from November 26, 2020. Education Minister, Shafqat Mahmood announced the continuation of online classes and commencement of winter vacations from December 25, 2020, to January 10, 2021.
Considering the uncertain situations, the decision will be reviewed once again. The officials say that the safety of students and stopping the spread of the virus are their priority.
