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KARACHI: Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah has announced that school and colleges will remain closed till August 19 in view of the rising coronavirus infection across the province.
“The decision has been taken that we will keep schools closed till Aug 19 as well as colleges,” the education minister said while addressing a press conference in Karachi today (Sunday) along with MPA Ismail Rahu.
A notification in this regard has also been issued by Sindh government’s school education and literacy department. “All public and private educational institutions under its administrative control would remain closed till Aug 19 due to the prevailing Covid-19 situation”, it added.
The Sindh government had closed schools across the province on July 24 due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases although it had said that exams would take place according to schedule.
The minister further announced that intermediate exams that had been postponed due to the lockdown will be taken from August 10, reiterating that the government would not allow cheating at any cost.
“Students will not be allowed to carry their mobile phones inside the exam centres,” he said, adding that teachers and exam staff will also not be allowed to bring cellphones inside the centre.
He also said that a notification would be issued tomorrow (Monday) to ensure mandatory vaccination for teachers and only vaccinated teachers would be allowed on premises.
“The decision of the chief minister and the task force to stop their salaries will also be implemented,” he added, referring to teachers who did not get vaccinated.
The minister pointed out that the positivity rate in Karachi had still not decreased and stood at 23 percent. “If we don’t take care in Muharram, this rate can increase,” he said, adding that the challenge was to protect the people from the disease but also not let student’s education be impacted.
In response to a question, Shah said that it was important for the provincial government to review its syllabus. “We are still teaching children the miracles of the radio,” he said, asking, “Does anyone even have radio in their homes in this day and age?”
Shah said if public schools undergo reform and improve for the better, parents will never send their children to private schools. “No parent wants to send children to private schools for additional fees,” he added.
On infrastructure, he said he would himself carry out inspections and vigilance would be ensured. “So at least infrastructure is child friendly and the school is a friend for children and not a ghost house to scare them off,” he added.
