Mahmood asks the varsities not opening on Feb 1 to ‘reconsider’ their decision

Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood late Sunday night advised the universities that are not reopening on Monday despite government directives to “reconsider" their decision.

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The education minister stressed that "online lessons, however good, are no substitute for on campus classes".

Mahmood was of the view those on-campus interactions between students and all the university staff members "mould social behaviour". Therefore the varsities that have decided to remain closed really "should reconsider".

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Earlier, the minister had said that the country has gone through a major academic loss due to the pandemic.