KARACHI: Addressing media in Karachi after the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting on Friday morning, Sindh Education and Labour Minister Saeed Ghani said that it had been decided that in the first phase from January 18, educational institutions from class IX to XII will reopen in Sindh and across the country while remaining classes were expected to commence on February 1.

“We pray to Allah Almighty that the Covid-19 situation in Sindh remains better so that educational institutions here are fully open,” he said.

He also said that in view of the current increase in number of Covid-19 patients across the country, the federation and the provinces had made the classes for young children conditional in the first phase. And it has been agreed that they will reopen on Feb 1.

“The Covid-19 situation will be reviewed once again before making a final decision on February 1,” he said.

In a response to a question, he said that “we pray ... that all educational institutions can reopen and all classes there can resume”.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2021