Education Ministers Agree to Close Schools Across Pakistan

Update: The provincial ministers for education have reached a consensus to keep schools closed until January 10, 2021.

As per the decision, all educational institutes (schools, colleges, universities, coaching classes) will remain closed from November 26 to January 10 to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The academic session will continue through online classes in the meantime. There will be winter vacations from December 26 to January 10, however, vocational institutes will remain open.

Teachers will have to come to school twice a day, while students will continue to get on-line classes during the period.

A review meeting will be held in the first week of January to decide the future course of action.

All the examinations scheduled for the month of December have been postponed. About the board exams, they will now be held in May and June next year.

Vocational education involving practical work will continue. Tests for recruitments will also be held as per the schedule. Those pursuing Ph.D. as well as the research scholars can visit their institutes and labs.

Occupation in the hostels will also be limited to one-third of the usual capacity.


The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) is underway at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) in Islamabad to discuss the situation of educational institutions in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19.

Provincial education ministers, health departments, and other relevant authorities will brief the forum on the pandemic situation in their respective provinces.

Chaired by the federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood, the meeting will decide on the winter vacations today.


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According to media reports, students are likely to get an early and extended winter break this year as education ministers, who previously opposed the idea, now agree with it.

The education ministers for Sindh and Punjab, Saeed Ghani and Murad Raas, opposed the proposal. However, the spread of the virus in education institutes has forced them to change their minds. Both ministers are expected to vote in favor of the winter holidays at the end of the meeting.


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Meanwhile, federal education and health departments have already recommended closing down all educational institutes for at least a month to curb the spread of the virus among students.

Federal Minister Education will hold a press conference today at 12:30 pm after the conclusion of the Inter-Provincial Ministerial meeting to announce the final decision in this regard.

The IPEMC has been meeting for the past two weeks but failed to make a final decision on holidays or school closures due to lack of consensus.


  • Fitty munh tm logon ka …ek maah ki vacations k bad winter vacations alag se deny ka kya tukk…..nikami gov’t u proved….jisko nahi jana school na jaye …institute kyu band kr rahy ho…hamary school ma to sop py bhi amal krwa rahy thy…markets band kro na beghairto jahan koi mask bhi nhi phnta

  • Teachers insan nai hain kya ye kya bkwas hua k tchrz ko campus mai bulaya ja ra hy students ka b on karain r government tchrz ka b private tchrz q suffer kr ry hain just

  • Why so much drama. Seems govt is unable to stand against school mafia. Children life are at stake and govt is thinking, thinking and thinking. How many lives you want to take before coming to conclusion. Punjab is under fire due to covid-19 because this time govt played diplomacy and did not implemented lock down. Life is important than school understand this. If one year of a child spoils no problem school is still getting its fees but if the life of a child loss than its no use but simply failure of the govt. Don’t put lives in danger for God sake. Understand your responsibility

  • Thanku for closing the school coz kids life is more important, and govt should take strick action on the lock down in the country to prevent the spread of corona virus,and they should give fine to the ppl those who r not following the SOP Pakistani follow all the rules if they r living in abroad but in 0ur own country they won’t follow anything coz here they know nothing will happen to them

  • Bilkul Sahe decision jin lougoun ko apne bachoun se pareshani hai tu peda kyun kiya covid19 ager lag gaya na tu phat jayege chotiye awaam

    • Hussain you have put very good question, Full fee cant justify online education, Parent are paying huge amount to provide environment and this environment cant be provided at home. Govt should take action.

  • Allah se darna chahye na k corona se. Bacho ka kya qusoor he jinhe taalim se mehrum hona par raha hey. Corona ne January mey kaha jana hey

  • Achi baat hai mgr schools college aur universities ki teachers ko bhi off dein wo insaan nhi hai unki life ko kyun khatray mai dala ja raha hai jb second wave itni dangerous hai tu teachers ko bhi ghar sy online lena allow karein

    • Teachers he zyada shor macha rahy thy school band kro so ab enjoy kro ap akaily school ja kr.beroon e mumalik may b corona hai laikin schools band nhy kiay actully wo apni genration k saat sincere hain hmary teachers sirf paisa kmana chahty hain mugar un k teachers bachon ko sahi mano main educate krty hain ta k unhain kisi tution ki b zarorat na rahy or home schooling iss ka hal nhe


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