KARACHI: Education Minister Sindh Saeed Ghani said on Sunday that the decision announced by Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood regarding the resumption of regular 5-day classes from March 1 (Monday) “caused confusion among students.”
Speaking to the media, Saeed Ghani said that as per a decision taken by the provincial government, the school would allow 50% attendance, adding that the government “cannot allow 100% attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Emphasizing the importance of following the coronavirus standard operating procedure (SOP), the minister added that children who attend school will be required to maintain social distancing in the classroom.
“How do children maintain social distancing if we allow 100% attendance?” Ghani questioned, “After the pandemic is over, all children will be allowed to go to school.”
He said that although the federal education minister has allowed 100% school-wide attendance, the Sindh Education Department has its own steering committee which is responsible for making provincial decisions.
The committee also made the decision to reopen the school, he said.
The minister also reminded the public that even though COVID-19 cases had decreased in the province, the pandemic was not over.