Punjab’s Minister for Education Murad Raas on Friday refused to accept school closure requests.
The minister took to his Twitter and stated that “I am shocked,” adding that the learning losses children have suffered since the start of COVID-19 are “tremendous.” At this point, schools should be the “last place to ever shut down”
“Who are these ignorant people? Unbelievable!” he added.
It is pertinent to note that according to a UNESCO database, schools in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan remain only partially open, while those in Pakistan and Sri Lanka are fully open.
Additionally, UNICEF has called on governments in South Asia to safely resume in-person learning and ensure that students catch up, as well as improving connectivity, with a top official warning the consequences could last decades.
