No Consensus: Schools To Remain Open Despite Covid Emergency

No Consensus: Schools To Remain Open Despite Covid Emergency
Provincial education ministers on Monday decided against closing down of educational institutions during the Inter Provincial Education Minister's Conference (IPEMC), despite the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the country.

The IPEMC was headed by the federal minister for education Shafqat Mehmood and was held through video link.

Officials from National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) also briefed the ministers about the current situation of Covid-19 in the country.

Even though the forum proposed early winter vacation from November to January, the provincial ministers failed to achieve a consensus. The participants decided to review the situation again next week.

The Education Minister of Punjab Murad Raas later tweeted that no immediate decision was taken in the meeting about the closure of schools,however all options were being discussed. He also told that the next meeting will take place on 23rd of November.

https://twitter.com/DrMuradPTI/status/1328238932895690752?s=20

A meeting of NCOC about the current situation of Covid-19 in the country will also be held today which will be headed by the prime minister Imran Khan.

There had been a surge in the Covid-19 cases with more 4 % positivity rate during last few weeks. The government offices were directed to implement 50 % work from home policy while other Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were also issued by the government on Saturday. On the other hand traders opposed the implementation of lockdown and threatened to join the anti-government protests organised by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) if the government enforces the lockdown.