Covid-19 situation: Minister calls special IPEMC meeting next week

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mahmood has called a special meeting of the Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference (IPEMC) amid rising coronavirus cases next week to review the situation.

The pandemic situation in the education sector and the possibility of early and extended winter break will be discussed in detail in the meeting, scheduled for Monday, (November 16), at 11am at the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC).

Letters have been issued to all the provincial education ministers in this regard. The IPEMC in its meeting held last Thursday termed situation of Covid-19 under control, and ruled out the closure of educational institutes across the country. All provinces shared the data of positivity rate of Covid cases in schools and colleges, which ranged from one to two percent scarcely; hence, the forum was satisfied with controlled situations in educational institutes.

A senior official said that positivity rate of Covid cases had been rising, compelling the government to review the situation on an emergency basis, and take a timely decision. During the last IPEMC, longer winter vacations were opposed and recommended either no winter vacations or limited for few days, so that the students may cover their courses.

The regular academic year before Covid-19 was of 32 weeks, which now has been condensed to 11 weeks only, so their is no rational for long vacations.

However, situations are going grim and the IPEMC would take final decision in this regard on Monday, the official added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020