LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday resumed middle level classes in public and private schools of the province.

The National Command and Operation Centre allowed schools to resume educational activities across the country after six months closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Educational institutions were allowed to resume activities in three phases. In the first phase, all higher education institutions - universities, professional colleges, vocational institutes, as well as secondary and higher secondary classes from 9 to 12 - resumed classes on Sept 15.

Under the second phase, middle level classes were allowed to resume the conventional education system while the primary students are set to return to schools on Sept 30.

After the reopening of the schools, parents and students seem to be happy on the re-opening of the school.

Students were of the view that they could prepare for the examinations after the opening of their schools.

School administrations were directing the students to ensure implementation of SOPs devised to contain spread of coronavirus.

School Education Department officials inspected schools to check the implementation of SOPs.

Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas also visited different public and private schools of the metropolitan city after resuming middle classes to check the implementation of SOPs.

He issued a warning to Beaconhouse Defense Campus for not implementing SOPs and said they would not tolerate violations and strict action would be taken over it.

He said it was their responsibility to ensure safety of the teachers and students and implementation of SOPs.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2020