Shafqat Mahmood to review coronavirus situation in schools today

The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) will review the coronavirus situation in schools today (Wednesday) after Punjab reopened schools on August 2 for in-person classes.

According to reports, the meeting will be chaired by Federal Minister for Education and Vocational Training Shafqat Mahmood. All provincial education ministers and stakeholders will attend the meeting virtually.

The meeting will review the reopening of schools for the new academic session keeping in view the COVID-19 situation, vaccination of school staff, according to the federal education ministry.

Measures to improve performance for comprehensive and responsive education, funding, coordination, and reporting will be the talking points in the meeting.

Last week, the government had decided to end summer vacations and reopen schools on August 2. It also announced that all the annual board exams will be held as per schedule.

However, Sindh government decided to suspend the examinations and enacted a lockdown on July 31 as the province reported a major uptick in the coronavirus cases.

The lockdown will remain in effect till August 8 and will be lifted after a review meeting for coronavirus situation in the province.