Minister warns of shutting down educational institutions violating SOPs

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday warned of closing down educational institutions which will be found violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) designated to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad, the minister said that the reopening of educational institutions was not an easy decision. The safety and wellbeing of students from arrival at the institutions till return to their houses is the government's top priority, he expressed.
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The minister said that the authorities have also been directed to monitor the implementation of SOPs in buses and vans. Precaution is the only way to get rid of this deadly virus, he added.
The statement came as thousands of schools and colleges across Pakistan have reopened after remaining closed for more than six months (187 days) due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government, masks have been made mandatory for all teachers and students, while schools, colleges, and university administrations have been directed to ensure the availability of sensitizers at the entry gates.
As per the decision taken by the government, educational institutions from grade nine to onwards reopened Tuesday and if the pandemic situation remains controlled, then students in grade six to eight will return to school on September 23, while students in the nursery to grade five will return to classes on September 30.