The Punjab government on Monday ordered all the state-run and private universities to exempt the teaching staff from attendance during the closure of varsities over coronavirus spread.

A notification issued by the Higher Education Department, the varsities’ teachers won’t be engaged till April 5 – the day till all the educational institutions have been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The vice-chancellors have also been directed to only engage the administrative staff [and that too skeleton] to meet the minimum requirements.

Later through another notification, the Higher Education Department ordered all private sector universities not to call teaching staff for duties during the closure of campuses till April 5.

HED Section Officer (Private Universities-I) Murtaza Omber Bashir told www.24newshd.tv that directions have been given to all private and state-run universities in Punjab in this regard.

The notification reads, “Teaching staff shall not be called for duties during the closure till 5th April, 2020. The Vice-Chancellor/Rector may only engage the Non-Teaching (Administrative Staff), only to meet the minimum administrative requirements”.

It further directed that all VCs or Rectors are required to personally ensure compliance of the directions and confirmation report may be submitted to the office the same day.

The decision was taken after the HED brought into notice that ‘teaching staff’ of private sector universities has been called on duties despite the closure of varsities till April 5.

Earlier, the Punjab government ordered all the state-run universities to get their student hostels vacated by 8pm and exempted the teaching staff from attendance during the closure of varsities.