PSA rejects govt decision to close schools

Rejecting Sindh government's decision to close schools amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, the Private School Association summoned a meeting on Monday to adopt the future way of commencing schools.

Earlier last week, the Sindh government has tightened restrictions and imposed a lockdown after the COVID-19 positivity ratio traversed 10% and closed schools and other sectors from July 26 to curb the spread of the virus.

Aleem Qureshi of the Grand Alliance of private school associations said the provincial government should declare a clear and explicit policy regarding educational institutions because schools and universities were all set to commence new academic year from August.

“The Provincial Task Force on COVID-19 should consult stakeholders instead of making autonomous decisions,” said Qureshi.

Qureshi said that closing schools is not the solution and will add to the academic loss of students for the third consecutive year.

He added that 80% of the staffers of private schools had been vaccinated; the risk of COVID-19 spread in the schools is very low. He said that private schools had been strictly following COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Furthermore, he said that repeated closure of schools will increase the number of students drop out from schools.

“The number of out-of-school children in Sindh, which had increased from four million to six million during the last two years,” he maintained.

He said that an emergency meeting of all provincial private school associations will be held on July 26 to discuss the future action plan.