Low attendance as schools, colleges resume educational activities in Punjab, Islamabad

Schools and colleges in Punjab and Islamabad have resumed educational activities for 10th and 12th classes but attendance is not quite up to the mark, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

On the other hand, as per estimates, only 10 percent students appeared on the first day of school reopening after holidays in Lahore.

The main reason is that the date sheet for holding the examinations of these classes is already out and there is common practice to relieve the students from schools one or two months ahead of the examinations.

However, the simple fact was oblivious to the authorities who are accused by the teachers and students to run the affairs through twitter without realizing the ground realities.

The authorities reopened the schools after the corona positivity rate in Islamabad reduced. However, classes of 11th, 9th and 8th will resume from June 7 (Monday).

Moreover, Corona Vaccine Certificate has been made mandatory for duty in Board Examinations.

Inter and matriculation examinations organized by Lahore will start from June 26 and July 14 as arrangements for examinations are in the final stages.

BISE Lahore Controller of Examinations said that roll number slips will be issued to candidates soon and exams will be in accordance with SOPs.

Earlier, Punjab School Education Minister Murad Raas urged teachers in Lahore to get vaccinated, saying schools in the province would be reopened from June 7.

He was speaking to the media alongside Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid after inaugurating the first dedicated 'Vaccination Centre for Teachers' at the Government Pilot Higher Secondary School located on Wahdat Road in Lahore.

Raas said the vaccination centre would inoculate the teaching and non-teaching staff of both public and private schools, noting that there were 16,000 teachers and 4,000 non-teaching staff in Lahore.

"I request all teachers of public and private schools and non-teaching staff to get vaccinated before June 7 because we are going to open schools on June 7," the minister said, adding that the provincial government would open similar vaccination centres in the nine divisional headquarters in order to inoculate the maximum number of teachers.

ANNOUNCEMENT:
Only Classes 10th & 12th to be opened in all Districts of Punjab starting tomorrow May 31st, 2021. It will be staggered with 50% students on one day and 50% on the alternate day. No other classes to be allowed till June 7th, 2021. Follow SOPs.

— Murad Raas (@MuradRaasMR) May 30, 2021

Reporters: Saba Bajaeer, Junaid Riaz