KARACHI: Public and private schools in Sindh reopened for in-person learning on Monday under strict guidelines.
In a notification School Education and Literacy Department issued last week, the schools that have vaccinated their teachers and other members of staff were allowed to conduct from August 30 in-person classes for six days a week.
The classes will commence with 50 percent attendance on alternative days, the notification said, directing the principals and heads of these institutions to ensure 100 percent vaccination of their workforce.
The notification further called on the institutions to ensure 100 percent compliance with Covid-19 guidelines, informing that random RT-PCR tests will be conducted by the health department “as and when required”.
On August 23, the province and All Pakistan Private Schools’ Federation agreed on reopening schools after a protest was announced by academics and parents against the delay in allowing in-person classes from August 23.
The revised guidelines mark the first time the government has taken a stance on reopening schools, which became a subject of contentious debate over the course of the pandemic. Previous recommendations included measures schools should undertake to curb the spread of the virus but did not emphasise reopening in-person.
