ISLAMABAD: The ministry of education has been weighing various options to extend winter vacation in educational institutions as Covid-19 cases have seen a surge in Islamabad.

Sources said over 80 educational institutions in Islamabad have been closed due to Covid-19 cases since their opening in September.

On an average, the city has witnessed over 300 cases daily during the last five days.

The sources said that in the upcoming meeting of education ministers of the country, the federal education ministry could plead for one month closure in segregation.

When contacted, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood said that education ministers would take final decision on Monday.

He, however, said that in his personal views, primary schools, secondary schools and higher education, should be dealt differently. “I think, the closure should be in segregation,” he said.

To a question, he said: “As I earlier mentioned that the final decision would be taken in the meeting, but one month closure could be an option,” the minister said.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday recommended early and extended winter vacation in educational institutions amid rise in cases.

Some officials of education ministry said that the education ministers could ask for one month closure or 15 days, which would be reviewed after 15 days and the institutions would remain closed until the cases see a drop.

In their last meeting, the education ministers did not agree for extended winter vacation as students have already face closure of institutions from March to September.

However, the NCOC in its recent meeting called for extended closure of institutions because of increase in cases.

Meanwhile, Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas, while talking to mediapersons at Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC), said that closure of educational institutions is not on agenda of the government. He, however, said that strict measures will be taken if Covid-19 infections surged.

“So far, 8,496 tests were conducted in educational institutions, which confirmed coronavirus in 78 teachers and students,” he said.

He made it clear that the meeting on Monday in the education ministry would not discuss closing schools.

Earlier, addressing a meeting of teachers and officials of education department, Murad Raas said the government was taking concrete steps for solution of issues being faced by people associated with education department.

“Teachers should focus on teaching students,” he said.

He said the government didn’t want to shut down the schools but hard decisions to be made in case of spike in coronavirus cases.

He said that the government had imposed smart lockdown in the hotspots of coronavirus.

“The managements of schools and colleges are strictly obeying the Covid-19 SOPs,” minister said. He said the government is also ensuring to provide quality education to children in all the government-schools.

Earlier, Commissioner and DC briefed the minister about the issues in education department of Rawalpindi division. Punjab Minister for Education Murad Raas ensured them for solution to the issues in education department. — Additional reporting by Aamir Yasin

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2020