Educational Institutes To Shut Down Across Country Due To Second Wave of COVID-19

The Federal education minister, Shafqat Mahmood has announced that all the educational institutes across the country will remain closed from 26th November to 10th January. Due to the rapid increase in the number of coronavirus cases the ministry took the decision in the meeting of the National Operation and Command Center held on 23rd November 2020. Along with the inter-provincial educational ministers, the health officials had also attended the meeting to give a briefing about the current situation of the coronavirus in the country. After the NCOC meeting, it was announced to shut down the schools, colleges, and universities to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the minister said that in the first week of January the meeting would be again held to discuss the reopening of the schools. 

The examinations scheduled from 26th November 2020 to 10th January 2021 have also been postponed. The authorities will declare the new examination schedule after the 15th of January to commence the examination. It is informed to the students of the MDCAT 2020 that the medical entrance exam will be held as per the announced date on 29th November 2020 with strict adherence to the SOPs. Shafqat Mahmood also said that they are requesting the board authorities to push the annual examination of matric and the intermediate to May and June to allow the students to cover the syllabus. Moreover, the education ministers are considering starting the new academic year in August. 

Sindh Education Minister, Saeed Ghani said that this year the students will not be promoted to the next class without appearing in the annual examination. He further clarified that till now no decision about the matric and the intermediate exams has been taken.