Private schools have rejected the federal government’s decision to keep the educational institutions closed till July 15, as it announced easing of the lockdown restrictions from Saturday, May 9.
In a statement, All Pakistan Schools Federation President Kashif Mirza said that they would not accept the government’s decision to keep the educational institutions closed until July 15.
Terming it “economic murder” of private institutes, Mirza said that 90 per cent private school buildings are rented while teachers are to be paid their salaries too.
“Around 50% schools would be shut down permanently and one million people would lose their jobs if educational institutes remained closed until July 15,” Mirza said. “It is impossible to recover educational losses due to the coronavirus lockdown.”
He demanded the government formulate SOPs and announce reopening of schools across Pakistan from June 1.
The APPSF president said if the government didn’t do so, then they would be forced to reopen schools under their own SOPs.
He also demanded the government withdraw the decision to cancel board exams.
Earlier in the day, Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood said that the government had decided to extend the closure of all educational institutions until the mid of July due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Mahmood said that due to the ongoing crisis, the board examinations for the ninth grade to intermediate (12th grade) will not be held.
He said that students will be promoted on the basis of last years’ exams, adding that on this basis, students will be admitted to universities over their intermediate first-year results.
