Covid-19 positivity exceeds 6pc
Zubair Qureshi
The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has extended the ongoing closure of Islamabad-based schools and colleges until June 6.
According to officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the FDE issued a notification dated May 20 to extend closure of institutions to June 7.
A notification issued by Saadia Adnan, Director Academics, says earlier the schools reopening was scheduled for May 24 but in view of positivity of Covid-19 in the city, it has been decided to extend schools closure to the first week of the next month.
According to the District Health Office (DHO) positivity rate in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) is more than 6 per cent that’s why “all educational institutions working under the amit of the Federal Directorate of Education shall now remain closed until 06-06-2021under the already issued guidelines.”
The FDE order says that staggered opening w.e.f 07-06-2021 shall be allowed subject to the endorsement of the same in a review meeting scheduled to be held at NCOC on 03-06-2021.
“Yes, we have extended closure until June 6 Meanwhile, Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Conference (IPEMC) and the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting is going on June 3 to decide the future course of action,” said a senior officer of the education ministry.
The federal capital on Thursday reported 237 new cases and five deaths in the last twenty-four hours recording a positivity rate of over 8 percent.
According to the NCOC guidelines, in districts where positivity is more than 6 percent, schools will reopen from May 24.
After the latest figures, Islamabad’s total infections stand at 79,789 while the death toll has climbed to 740.
It is relevant to note here that besides leaving a negative impact in almost all fields, Covid-19 has also badly disturbed educational activities.
Students have been seeing frequent closure and opening of institutions since March last year.
Last year, the government promoted students without exams, however, for this year, education ministers have made it clear that no student would be promoted without exams.
