No reason to postpone opening of Grade 6 to 8 classes: Shafqat

ISLAMABAD: Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has rejected calls to postpone opening schools for Grade 6 to 8 students over a gradual surge in the Coronavirus schools.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, Mahmood said that there was no change regarding the time table announced earlier after Inter provincial meeting of education ministers.

“We will meet in the NCOC on 22nd to decide finally but if the current trend remains, no reason to postpone 6 to 8 opening on 23rd September,” he said.

This is in reference to the decision announced by Sindh today https://t.co/qdQu3lgCDp

— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) September 18, 2020

His message came shortly after Sindh government announced that the resumption of school classes for students of grade six until eight, scheduled for Monday, will be delayed by a week after schools were observed not fully following coronavirus health guidelines.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Education Minister Saeed Ghani said the government realised the academic losses suffered by students due to closure of schools, but stressed that their health could not be compromised to compensate for the loss of learning.

“Despite our efforts, we are seeing a lot of flaws and violations, therefore we are delaying the second phase of resuming grade 6-8 classes,” he announced.

Ghani said the classes that were slated to resume on Monday (Sept 21) will be pushed back to Sept 28, if the situation concerning the virus improves.