QUETTA: All universities, colleges, high schools and religious seminaries in Balochistan reopened on Tuesday after remaining closed for almost nine months.

The Balochistan government had closed educational institutions in March after the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country.

It was observed that the students were wearing masks and adopted social distancing while entering educational institutions.

In Quetta, a ceremony was held on the first day of opening educational institutions at Sandeman High School. Balochistan Education Minister Yar Mohammad Rind, representatives of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and officials from education department participated in the ceremony.

Schools in Quetta met almost all standards of the World Health Organisation, including social-distancing, wearing masks and adopting standard operating procedures (SOPs). Private educational institutions also enforced SOPs issued by the health and other departments. However, private schools issued notices to the parents to pay tuition, security, games and library fees immediately.

“There were no games, use of library and security of students as schools, colleges and universities remained closed, but private educational institutions are demanding all dues,” government official Shahid Maqbool told Dawn, adding that his two daughters were studying in a private school which had issued notice for payment all dues of the past nine months.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2020