Punjab's Education Minister Issues a Personal Decision Regarding School Closures

As the fifth wave, propelled by the Omicron variant, spreads across the country, students and parents are increasingly calling for educational institutes to be shut down.

All eyes were on the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC), which was scheduled to meet earlier today to decide on the closure of schools, colleges, and universities due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

The IPEMC, on the other hand, was postponed until next week, just hours before it was scheduled to meet. Shafqat Mahmood, the Federal Education Minister, has not given an explanation for the delay.

Dr. Murad Raas, Punjab Education Minister, turned to Twitter to respond to parents and students who had inquired about the closure of schools and colleges. He questioned why educational institutions should be the first to be closed.

Punjab's Education Minister Issues a Personal Decision Regarding School Closures

He wrote that before closing schools and colleges, all other activities, particularly social activities, should be discontinued first, adding that the suggestion to close educational institutions should be considered at the end.

The Minister also voiced serious worry about the loss of learning that occurs as a result of the closure of schools and colleges, adding that due to the closure of educational facilities during the Coronavirus pandemic, students have already endured inconceivable learning losses in the last two years.