QUETTA: The Balochistan government has formed district committees across the province to ensure implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the opening of educational institutions on Sept 15.

Each district committee will comprise three members to carry out the task.

According to a provincial government notification issued here on Thursday, deputy commissioners would be the chairmen and district education and health departments’ officers would be members of the committees.

The committees would ensure implementation of SOPs in around 14,000 government-run primary, middle and high schools in the province.

In line with the federal government’s decision, the Balochistan government will open educational institutions from Sept 15 in three phases in the province.

In the first phase, universities and colleges would be opened followed by secondary and primary schools.

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have also been formed to conduct screening and related work at all educational institutions.

These RRTs would submit data to departments concerned on a daily basis, the notification said.

District health officers will take samples and fill pro-forma of symptomatic/suspected students, teachers and other staff.

At least 100 samples should be collected by RRTs from schools on a daily basis. The teams would send the samples to a laboratory in Quetta for diagnosis. The laboratory would upload tests’ results on the internet within 24 to 36 hours after receiving the samples.

The health department has already shared passwords and log in procedure with all departments concerned, the notification said.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2020