All Educational Institutions are Closing in the Country From November 26

The government has decided to close all educational institutions across the country from November 26 in view of the rising incidence of coronavirus cases across the country, especially in educational institutions. However, home-based education will continue in the meantime.

In Islamabad, Special Health Assistant Dr. Faisal Sultan and Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood held a press conference in which Faisal Sultan said that in the last 24 hours, the rate of positive cases of the corona was more than 7%.

Important decisions

• All educational institutions will be closed from November 26 to December 24
• Home-based education will continue during this one-month period
• Teachers will be allowed to call schools
• Where online facilities are not available, teachers will provide homework
• There will be winter holidays from December 25 to January 10
• A review meeting will be held from January 11 before the reopening of the educational institution
• One-third of students will be able to stay in university hostels
• Exams in December will be postponed until mid-January
• Universities will be able to call Ph.D. students

On the occasion, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said that in today's meeting of inter-provincial education ministers, it was decided that from November 26, all educational institutions in the country, schools, colleges, universities, tuition centers will be closed. They will come and continue their education from home.

He said that where education is online, teachers will provide homework where it is not available and the provincial governments will decide in this regard.

Continuing, he said that all governments would try to ensure that home-based education would continue but there would be no classes for students in schools, colleges, and universities.

He said that home-based studies would continue from November 26 to December 24, while there would be winter holidays from December 25 to January 10, during which all educational institutions would remain closed. The education minister said that all educational institutions would be reopened on January 11 as conditions improve, but a review meeting would be held in the first week of January.

Regarding the examinations, he said that the examinations during December were postponed and now they will be held on January 15 and after, however, there are some examinations that will continue. In this regard, Special Assistant Dr. Faisal said that some of the entrance exams like MD Kate, etc. which are for entry will continue as usual as it is possible to arrange them with SOPs and masks and it should be conducted carefully Can be done.

He further said that the examinations for teachers or any other recruitment would continue but the examinations for students in December have been postponed till mid-January. Higher education universities will immediately launch online education, while university hostels will house one-third of students, including students who have come from abroad or where internet access is not available, the education minister said. Are

He also said that the university itself would decide whether to call PhD students or those who have to do lab work. On this occasion, he clarified that the educational process will continue in those skilled institutions where regular classes do not exist. Shafqat Mehmood said that as long as home-based learning continues, schools will decide to call teachers as needed, but students will be barred from entering.

Regarding further decisions taken at the meeting, he said, "We recommend that the board exams in March and April be shifted to May and June so that students have time to complete their coursework, in addition to government schools." The school year should start in August instead of April, in this regard summer or March holidays should be reduced.

He said that all issues would be reviewed and regular education would resume in mid-January.