LAHORE: Punjab Minister for School Education Murad Raas says the government will address the grievances of the stakeholders about the single national curriculum.

He was addressing the media during his visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. LCCI President Mian Misbah Rehman, vice president Nasir Hameed and Serving School Association President Mian Raza Rehman were also present.

The meeting between the LCCI and the school education department was held to address the grievances of the private educational institutes demanding a support package for the private schools affected by Covid lockdown and also discuss the single national curriculum and single book issue.

The minister said the government would also discuss modalities of laws about private schools with the owners and take them into confidence while tabling the law. He said the government was aware of the financial problems being faced by the private schools due to the coronavirus pandemic and would take measures to address these problems.

“The government has asked for a 20pc fee concession due to lockdown during the first wave of coronavirus pandemic but did not ask for any concession during the second wave,” he said.

Mr Raas said around 70pc of the private schools were charging less the Rs5,000 fee and facing losses due to the lockdown. “We are planning to give a package for private schools to help them come out of the affects of the lockdown,” he said.

He said the government was going to open schools from Jan 18 and they would be forced to close educational institutions again if the situation did not get well.

He said efforts were being made to implement coronavirus SOPs in educational institutes and all institutes were directed to only call 50pc students on alternate days. He said the government was planning to shorten the summer vacation to bridge the learning gap of the students.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2021