The Federal Government announced on Monday to close all the educational institutions in Pakistan from November 26 to January 10 due to an increase in the coronavirus cases across the country.
After a meeting of Provincial Health Ministers and Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), Federal Education and Professional Training Minister Shafqat Mehmood addressed a press conference along with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.
Dr Faisal Sultan informed the journalists that the educational institutions across the country would remain closed till January 10 next year.
Shafqat Mahmood clarified further that the institutions would remain closed from November 26 to December 24 due to the increasing number of corona cases while from December 25 to January 10 the institutions would remain closed in the wake of winter vacation.
He said the students would not need to attend their schools, colleges, universities and academies and would be studying from home.
He further said that the students at vocational educational institutions would carry on their trainings at vocational institutes.
He also said that, before opening the institutions after January 11, 2021, the latest situation of the outbreak would be reviewed.
He added that the students going for online option would be continuing their studies from home while those having no internet facility would be managed under exclusive provincial policies.
The federal minister said that the exams in December would not be conducted while assessment and recruitment exams would be held.
He clarified that no student would be promoted to the next class without appearing in exams.
He also asked the chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC) to immediately go for online classes for the higher education students.
He said that the PhD students and students from remote areas would be allowed to stay at the universities and hostels so that their studies might not be affected
He further said that any decision about the attendance of the teachers would be taken by the respective school management.
The federal minister also said that the exams supposed to be held in March-April in 2021, would be conducted in May-June, 2021 now.
He added that the summer vacation would be shortened next year and the new academic year would start in August instead of April.
