The Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) has decided to reopen schools in two phases.
In a meeting chaired by the Federal Education Minister, Shafqat Mehmood, it was decided that classes for grades 9 to 12 would be resumed from 18 January, classes for primary schools would be resumed on 25 January, and that all universities and colleges would resume regular classes on 1 February.
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The minister had initially held reservations over the matter as the infection rate had increased manifold and has been stranding normalcy on various fronts.
Today, the decision about the reopening of all the schools and colleges was made official according to Murad Raas of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), following which School Education Punjab retweeted his announcement.
As usual, citizens resorted to Twitter to voice their concerns and play the ‘rightful opinion’ card.
University students played the ‘mujhay kuch nai ata‘ card and hoped for the best.
A few hearts were broken, and some tears were shed.
Many expressed their doubts on the new schedule amidst a lethal pandemic exposure and the threat to healthcare.
The government approved the recurring plans for the reopening of all the educational institutions while some had just started to adjust to the new norm of online classes.
Denial is a tricky thing, and perhaps satirical in reactions such as these:
A few had been hopeful for extended stay-at-home plans, but it is too late for that now.
We are looking forward to moving on from something as mundane as this:
To this:
Public opinion is a strong catalyst that influences the government at even the highest level at times. Perhaps the Twitterati’s reactions will force the Minister of Education to amend his decision, but that is something that only time will tell.
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As per details, the final decision to reopen all the schools was taken after the officials had considered the advice from the Ministry of Health.
It should be noted that the association of private schools has played an integral part in prompting the government to devise a timeline for the reopening of all the schools. The federal government had previously ordered the closure until 10 January on the recommendation of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).