Students urge Shafqat Mahmood to keep the schools close

Students urge Shafqat Mahmood to keep the schools close

Amid the rising Coronavirus cases in the country, many students took to social media to request the education minister to keep the educational institutes closed.

With more than 23,000 students initiating the trend #ShafqatMahmood on Wednesday, they complained that the Covid-19 cases have an uptick in the last month. Yet, the government is still mulling over the idea of reopening educational institutes.

A social media user Malik Farhad asked the government that more than “3100 cases have been reported in a day then why the institutions are to be opened.”

Another university student complained that while all the classes were conducted online in the last semester, “there were major lackings from the teacher side, yet the demand for physical exams is unfair." The social media user also lamented that students also faced internet problems. “We demand govt to take online exams,” he said.

Another social media user told the education minister that her relative got infected because of her son, who went to university amidst this deadly virus. “Half of her lungs are now damaged; who is to be blamed, sir?” she asked.

On the other hand, some students came up with the excuse that the weather is freezing and it is not a good idea to reopen educational institutes at this time. “My mother would not send me to college as it is very cold. Therefore the educational institutes should remain close,” said Maryam.

It is pertinent to note that the federal government had announced the reopening of educational institutes phase-wise from January 18. However, keeping in view the novel strain of Coronavirus and increased cases, the final decision about the reopening of educational institutes will be announced after a meeting tomorrow, January 15, Friday.