Private educational institutions in Islamabad completely closed

A formal notification for the complete closure of private educational institutions in Islamabad has been issued by the relevant authorities.

According to the notification, due to increasing cases of coronavirus, all educational institutions in Islamabad will remain closed till April 11, 2021. The Ministry of Education has also put a complete ban on examinations and tests in all private schools.

 Earlier, Speaking to the media after the NCOC meeting in Islamabad, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood had said that the prevalence of COVID-19 is high in some districts of Punjab including Lahore. Therefore, in the areas including Islamabad where educational institutions were closed from March 15 to March 28, now institutes will remain closed till April 11.

The Punjab Education Department had said that the nine districts of Punjab in which educational institutions remained closed till April 11 included Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala.

Besides, educational institutions in Faisalabad, Sargodha, Sialkot and Multan will also remain closed.

Earlier, The government had decided to extend the closure of schools in nine districts of Punjab including Lahore till April 11 in view of third wave of coronavirus.

According to details, the districts where schools will remain closed include Lahore, Sheikhupura, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sialkot, Gujrat, Multan and Faisalabad.

While addressing media post meeting chairing an important meeting of health of health and education ministers at National Command and Control Center (NCOC), Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said that rest of the districts will follow routine schedule.

“The virus is spreading at an alarming rate in Lahore and few other districts on Punjab and therefore, we have decided to keep schools closed till April 11,” he said.

The education minister said that it will be up to provincial governments to decide in which districts they want to shut down schools.

“The examinations from 9th to 12th grade will be held as per schedule,” he added.

On March 10, the federal government had announced a two-week Spring Break in Islamabad, Peshawar and seven Punjab cities where a sharp surge in infections was reported.

Pakistan is presently experiencing third wave of coronavirus which is said to be deadlier and more contagious than previous two waves.