Provincial Education Minister Dr Murad Raas took a U-turn on the issue of corona test for teachers, saying the corona test for all teachers before the school reopened was just a suggestion.
He expressed these views while addressing a press conference on Wednesday and that it was mandatory for all teachers to submit a corona report before the school reopens.
Each teacher was directed to undergo corona test on his own initiative, on which Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali had said that if the government does not conduct tests on teachers at the government’s expense, teachers will not enter schools but will sit at the gate, the provincial education minister should take steps keeping in view the ground realities.
The Provincial Minister termed the decision as a personal opinion on the strong response from the party.
Murad said the decision to test corona for teachers will be made at an inter-provincial conference on September 7. The corona test for all teachers was just a proposal, not to call fourth-graders from nursery to school in the first phase. Under consideration, the final decision will be made on September 7.
It may be recalled that the first case of corona virus was reported in Lahore on March 15, after which it gradually increased.
The government had imposed a lockdown on March 23 across Punjab, including Lahore, to control the corona epidemic. Cases have been reduced and the lockdown has ended.
After the lockdown, entertainment venues, shopping malls, business centers and bazaars have reopened, but wedding halls, schools and cinemas are still closed.
The Education Minister has said that corona test of teachers will be mandatory before the opening of the school. Children coming without masks will not be allowed to enter the school. Masks will be worn by children from home. In private schools, children must wear a mask and bring the mask from home.
He said that the teachers’ test would be mandatory three days before the school reopens. The government cannot afford to spend Rs 7 billion on masks and corona. Murad Rass said that no private school will be allowed to sell masks and other items.
He said that teachers have been transferred on administrative basis and sent to schools where there was a shortage of teachers. These transfers will not be returned under any circumstances.
Punjab Teachers Union General Secretary Rana Liaquat Ali strongly condemned the statement of Provincial Education Minister and said that teachers will not take corona test from their own pockets, the government should conduct corona test of teachers at government level. It is impossible for 1.5 million public and private teachers and employees to have corona test.
The government has managed to conduct barely 800,000 tests in five months. The provincial education minister should take steps keeping in view the ground realities.
Provincial Education Minister Dr Murad Raas said the decision to test corona for teachers will be made at an inter-provincial conference on September 7. The corona test for all teachers was just a proposal, not to call fourth-graders from nursery to school in the first phase. Under consideration, the final decision will be made on September 7.
