LAHORE: Private school owners and parents on Wednesday rejected the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) decision to close educational institutions till April 11.

Earlier in the day, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood held a press conference after chairing the NCOC meeting and announced that educational institutes in the areas with high Covid incidences will remain shut till April 11.

The meeting was also attended by senior officials from health and education departments, and provincial education ministers.

Punjab Minister for School Education Dr Murad Raas tweeted the announcement: “All public and private schools of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Sargodha, and Sheikhupura will remain closed till April 11. The remaining districts will be open on the previous schedule.”

Parents question schools closure when markets are open

Talking to the media, representatives of the parents association demanded a review of the government announcement and said all markets were open so how can only schools contribute to the spread of coronavirus.

“Our children are facing academic losses as online education is not up to the mark,” they said.

They said the general public was flouting all standard operating procedures while only children were bearing all the brunt.

Meanwhile, the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation announced reopening of schools from April 1.

APPSF President Kashif Mirza warned the school owners would hold a long march if any action was taken on reopening of the institutes. Private schools would continue holding classes in two shifts and 50pc students be called in each shift. He demanded the government allow vaccine administration to students and teachers on priority.

He said political and social gatherings were resulting in spreading the virus but the government was only focusing on closure of educational institutes. He demanded the prime minister, chief justice of Pakistan and the army chief withdraw the announcement of closure of schools.

He suggested the government apply micro lockdowns and stop wasting time of the students.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2021