Private school associations call for reopening of schools

A number of private school associations on Wednesday asked the government to reopen educational institutions in Islamabad after the city cited a significant decrease in coronavirus cases.

Earlier, the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had announced that the educational institutions with more than 5% of positivity rate will remain closed.

The associations said the reopening of educational institutions was subject to the coronavirus positivity rate dropping below 5%, while this week, the rate of infection in the capital has fallen to 3%.

"In spite of a low coronavirus positivity ratio, the closing down of schools in Islamabad is disturbing," the associations said.

The associations demanded the government instantly issue a statement permitting the schools to resume their educational activities in Islamabad.

On May 22, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) — the principal body in Pakistan's efforts in the fight against coronavirus — had commanded provinces to abstain from reopening educational institutions in districts with high COVID-19 infection rates.

The NCOC had advised that the educational institutions in the districts where the coronavirus positivity rate is high should not reopen on May 24 as was earlier decided. It had advised educational institutes to remain close till June 6.

"The districts where the infection rate is less — below 5% — can reopen educational institutions (on May 24)," NCOC said in a notification sent to the provinces.

The NCOC has fixed a limit of a 5% positivity ratio for reopening of schools; if a district has an infection rate higher than the set cap; educational institutes in those districts are directed to remain close.

The final decision on reopening of educational institutes will be taken on June 3, the notification added.