The final decision to open universities and schools

The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) approved the Ministry of Education's decision to reopen universities and primary schools on February 1.

Middle schools and colleges continued their education on January 18 following a decision at an inter-provincial education ministerial meeting two weeks ago. However, instead of January 25, it was decided to open secondary and primary schools together with universities starting February 1.

The NCOC approved the decision at a meeting on Wednesday that saw only 50 percent of students take daily classes in four major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Hyderabad, which have high rates of coronavirus infection.

The forum decided to reopen the education sector by issuing an alternative class policy three days a week.

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Discontent on social media continued when Federal Minister for Education and Training Shafqat Mahmoud announced the phased opening of educational institutions earlier this month. Most students want him to extend winter break because the virus is still wreaking havoc in many parts of the country.

The minister said the government was closely monitoring the pandemic situation across the country and educational facilities at coronavirus hotspots would be closed again.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Assad Umar has confirmed that the government is introducing a vaccination system. She says,

Sind said that she also set up vaccination centers, nine of which are in Karachi and the rest in the Sukkur, Larkana, Hyderabad, Shahid Benazirabad and Mirpurhas divisions. Reuters