Govt’s decision to hold exams: What will be the future of students?

The federal government has decided to hold examinations of classes 10 and 12 after June 20 under the anti-COVID Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

An inter-provincial meeting of education ministers was held under the chairmanship of Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood in which all the provincial education ministers participated through video link. The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) also decided that summer vacations would be shortened this year.

In the meeting, it was decided that no student would be promoted this year without an examination but the examinations of all classes would be held in any case. Twelfth-grade exams will be held after June 20. In case of delay in results, universities will admit students on the basis of previous certificates, summer vacations will be reduced which will be decided by the provinces.

The teaching process suspended in Sindh

Sindh Education and Labour Minister, Saeed Ghani has announced that all public and private educational institutions in Sindh will remain closed in view of the current coronavirus situation in the province.

Saeed Ghani said during the suspension of the teaching process in educational institutions, headmasters and teaching staff will be allowed to go to campuses in accordance with the 50% attendance rule. 

The minister said during this period, all classes will continue to take place online, adding that in addition to the online classes, students should be given homework through alternative means too through the use of different software and online platform, including Microsoft Office, email, and messaging services like WhatsApp.

Education activities resume in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Education activities have also been restored in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Schools reopened in 21 districts of the province with 5% fewer corona-positive cases. While educational activities will be suspended in 12 districts.

Situation in Punjab and Balochistan

Schools have been reopened in several districts of Punjab and Balochistan. Schools have been opened in 16 districts of Punjab and 32 districts of Quetta. However, in the districts of the provinces where the rate of corona cases is more than 5%, schools are still closed.

Online education

Due to repeated closures of educational institutions in the country amid coronavirus, children are no longer attracted to education but are forgetting the session in which they had studied for four months. The COVID-19 has resulted in schools shut all across the world. Globally, over 1.2 billion children are out of the classroom.

As a result, education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms. Students face many difficulties in studying in online classes, due to which students suffer from mental and physical stress while the burden of paying fees on parents is also a separate issue.

Sitting at home and taking online classes have changed the way students think. Their interest trends have changed. Intelligent students have also rusted the reading process with their mental abilities due to the pandemic.

The future of the students

Last year, the government had promoted students without taking exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic but this year it has been decided to take exams anyway, students are the assets of the nation to keep their education in the right direction and make the education system effective and purposeful is the responsibility.

There is a need to focus on improving the education sector in the country which is vital for national development. The country needs an education system that acts as means of self-development and a source of bringing positive change in society.

Financing human capital, such as education, health and nutrition, is the foundation for building a progressive foundation for human security and society.