KARACHI: School across Sindh – public and private — will reopen on August 30 as per a notice issued on Friday by the provincial School Education and Literacy Department.
According to the notification, schools shall remain open six days a week, with 50 percent attendance of students on alternate days. “All the heads of educational institutions will ensure 100% vaccination of teaching and non-teaching staff by producing evidence to the concerned regional head,” it added.
The education department directed all the educational institutions to ensure 100% compliance of COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) already issued by the government.
The notice further stated that random PCR tests will be conducted by the health department as required. The regulations were applicable to all public and private schools under the administrative control of the School Education and Literacy Department.
Earlier this week, Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah had announced that the provincial government would allow schools that have completely vaccinated their staff to operate from August 30.
“We want the rate of vaccination to increase in the education sector,” the education minister had said while addressing a press conference. He had said the quicker people get vaccinated, the sooner Pakistan could get rid of coronavirus.
Shah had said the government would allow the operation of schools at 50% capacity for six days throughout the week, while regular PCR tests would also be conducted. “We have also allowed vaccinated staff to work in schools. It is the school administration’s job to check for parents’ vaccination,” the minister said.
